French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to destroy Ukraine’s statehood and warned that the “security” of its President Volodymyr Zelensky was at risk, IgbereTV reports.
“This is total war. Putin has decided… to take Ukraine off the map of nations,” Le Drian told France Inter radio.
“The Donbas issue is just a pretext,” he said, referring to the area of eastern Ukraine that is partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
“What Putin wants is Ukraine’s submission, and he will pursue his offensive until the end,” he added.
“President Zelensky’s security is a central element of all that’s happening,” he said, adding: “We are ready to help him if necessary.”
But Le Drian refused to be drawn on whether such help could extend to exfiltration of the president from Ukraine.
Zelensky had said early Friday that he and his family remained in Ukraine, despite Russia identifying him as “target number one
