Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, was the guest of franceinfo, Wednesday February 22, 2023.
Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, was the guest of franceinfo on Wednesday February 22. War in Ukraine, withdrawal of forces from Burkina Faso, suspicion of illegal taking of interest… He answers questions from Nicolas Teillard and Éric Biegala from the Balard military command center south of Paris.
War in Ukraine: “Russia cannot and must not win”
For Sébastien Lecornu, “Russia cannot and must not win” the war in Ukraine. “This is the official position of France. This does not mean that Russia should collapse”, he adds, in reference to Emmanuel Macron’s statement at the annual Munich Security Conference last weekend. For the minister, “Russian aggression in Ukraine must not only end, it must end in failure”.
He claims that Ukrainians “fight” and that they “need to be helped”. For this, France will continue to support them militarily: “Help will continue.” Sébastien Lecornu specifies that this aid “does not participate in the escalation as some of the extreme left or extreme right sometimes suggest in the French public debate”.
Burkina Faso: France will continue “to be available for partners who will fight against terrorism”
“The issue of terrorism remains unfortunately a major topic in Africa”reacted the Minister of the Armed Forces, while earlier in the day, Paris confirmed the withdrawal of its soldiers from Burkina Faso. “Ukraine must not make us Europeans myopic about security threats”he added, specifying that France will continue “to be available for partners who will fight against terrorism”.
The Franco-Swedish industrialist Eurenco “will relocate to Bergerac”
The European explosives specialist, the Franco-Swedish industrialist Eurenco, “will relocate to France, to Bergerac, a powder production chain for its 155 mm shells”, rejoiced Sébastien Lecornu. The 155 mm shells are part of the equipment supplied by France, and other Western countries, to Ukraine to fight against the Russian invasion. They are notably used by the Caesar guns delivered by Paris. “It is obvious that 2023 is going to be a year of pressure on the production of shells”acknowledges the Minister for the Armed Forces who wishes “accelerate” their manufacture. He specifies that France “puts pressure on the industry” on this subject.
Paris-Normandy motorways: “I obviously refute any illegal taking of interests”
The Minister of the Armed Forces is implicated, according to information published Wednesday by the newspaper Release , as part of a procedure by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office. This concerns his past functions at the head of the departmental council of Eure. He is suspected of illegal taking of interests for having taken part in deliberations involving the Paris-Normandy motorway company, of which he was also a director at the same time. “I obviously refute any illegal taking of interests”reacts Sébastien Lecornu .