France intends to “make the cost of the war unbearable for Russia”, which invaded Ukraine in February, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Monday as she opened a debate on the war in Ukraine in the French National Assembly.
“Hit the economy hard” Russian
“Our objective has been the same from the beginning: to make the cost of the war unbearable for Russia, to hit its economy hard, to prevent it from financing its offensive,” said the head of government.
“It was Russia that launched this war. It is Russia that pushes us to act,” he recalled.
“The sanctions will continue as long as Putin continues to spiral into conflict and confrontation. To withdraw the sanctions would be to abandon Ukraine. That would be to give up our values. That would be to submit to Russia,” he said.
“France, patriotism, is not abandonment. It is not resignation. It is not submission,” added Elisabeth Borne, indirectly addressing the far-right deputies of the National Grouping, accused of proximity to Moscow and opposed to economic sanctions against Russia.
Sanctions “work”
“And these sanctions, without offending those who hide their fascination with Russian imperialism with a supposed patriotism: they work,” the prime minister assured again.
“The Russian economy has contracted considerably, with a 6% drop in its GDP for this year. Russian inflation has skyrocketed. And Russia has lost access to high-tech equipment,” he said, listed.
“With high energy prices, Moscow is trying to keep up the illusion for now. But the facts are there. Russian propaganda must not deceive us. The Russian economy is suffocating,” said Elisabeth Borne.
As for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the head of government announced “the establishment, starting in late November, of aid” for the French who “welcome displaced Ukrainians in their homes.”
Source: BFM TV
