French Foreign Minister: Ukraine May Use French Long-Range Missiles Against Russia – No “Red Lines” on Support

Ukraine can launch French-made long-range missiles at Russia ‘in self-defence’ and Western allies should ‘not set or express red lines’ in support of Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with the BBC yesterday.

Speaking to journalists, Jean-Noel Barrot refused to confirm whether Kyiv had already used these weapons against Moscow.

The comments come after the US, UK and France officially allowed Ukraine to use its long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia.

This has prompted a violent response from Russia, which has been waging a terrorist occupation war in the middle of Europe, in Ukraine for three years. 

After Ukraine began deploying long-range weapons last week, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said he reserved the ‘right’ to strike military installations of those EU and NATO countries that supplied Ukraine with missiles.

At the same time, Germany has repeatedly refused to join its allies in providing such weapons. On Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again ruled out sending German-made Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Scholz chose this strategy as the cornerstone of his campaign for the early German chancellor's election on 23 February 2025. Scholz has also repeatedly opposed France's proposal to potentially send Western troops to Ukraine, even if it is only as instructors.

In turn, Barrot said he could not rule out sending troops to fight in Ukraine if necessary. In doing so, he echoed previous comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron.  ‘We are not ruling out any option,’ he said.

Following talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London on Friday, the French chief diplomat also said that Paris could support Kyiv's aspirations to join NATO, a possibility first raised by Macron last year.

‘We are open to extend an invitation, and so in our discussions with friends and allies, friends and allies of Ukraine, we are working to bring them closer to our position,’ Barrot said.