EditFrance sees itself as main target of Putin’s hybrid wars
A French general described coordinated Russian pressure by land, sea, space and in the media media
The Chief of the French General Staff, Thierry Burkhard, stated that Russia is a long-term and large-scale threat to the country because the Kremlin has identified France as “one of its priority targets,” reports European Pravda.
The French general spoke during a rare public appearance to emphasize that Russia is involved in all threats facing his country, describing it as “a long-term, close, and highly multidimensional threat.”
“The Kremlin has identified France as one of its priority targets,” said Burkhard, adding that the Russian threat manifests in all domains — in the air, in space, at sea, and in cyberspace. “The Russians are advancing under disguise.”
He expressed concern about the activity of Russian submarines and the signals of Russia’s intentions to militarise space technologies, particularly the use of specialised satellites.
The general stated that Russia is already waging hybrid war against France in various dimensions. As examples, he pointed to the anti-French information campaign in Africa, which led to the ousting of the contry’s military presence in Sahel region, hostile actions within France through agents, and informational influence.
He cited as examples the appearance of Stars of David on buildings in Paris, mock coffins “with French soldiers” placed in front of the Eiffel Tower and as images on buildings amid discussions on potential formats of support for Ukraine, as well as the incitement of panic surrounding the appearance of bedbugs in public places in the months leading up to the Paris Olympics.
The French authorities established that the stars of David were pained by Moldovan nationals paid by Moscow, whicle the coffins were brought in front of the Eiffel tower by Bulgarian nationals who received payment from a Russian.
The relationship between French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin, once marked by cordiality exemplified by Macron’s 2019 invitation to Putin at his Brégançon summer residence, deteriorated significantly by 2022, symbolized by their tense meeting across a long table in Moscow amid escalating tensions over Ukraine.
On 1 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first phone call in nearly three years, described by the Kremlin as “substantive.”
New proposals from the Kremlin on Ukraine
Meanwhile, Washington announced that new proposals for settling the conflict in Ukraine have been received from Russia, the State Department reported.
According to the department, the new ideas from the Kremlin were presented during a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which took place the previous day in Malaysia.
“The Russians shared some ideas, which he (Rubio) will pass on to the President. And of course, we’ll see what he says. The President always leads such decisions,” said State Department official Tami Bruce.
She recalled that both Rubio and Trump are disappointed with the lack of progress in resolving the crisis around Ukraine. The head of the State Department himself, leaving Malaysia where he held the meeting with Lavrov — which lasted less than an hour — urged people not to expect much from the Kremlin’s new proposals. “I wouldn’t call it something that guarantees peace,” he said.
Lavrov, commenting on Rubio’s words, stated that he had “confirmed” during the talks the position that Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined to Trump a week earlier.
On 7 July, Lavrov stated that for peace in Ukraine, the West must lift all sanctions, return the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia, and the annexation of four Ukrainian regions within their administrative borders must be recognized not only by Kyiv and Washington, but also by the entire international community.
Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio spoke again on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Malaysia. The two top diplomats held a brief informal “standing” conversation. The short meeting appeared to take place in a positive atmosphere, with Lavrov smiling and Rubio patting him on the shoulder. The interlocutors gestured actively, and in the end, shook hands.
Having promised to end the war within 24 hours, Trump offered Putin a generous deal that includes the recognition of Crimea, partial easing of sanctions, and the restoration of economic and diplomatic relations. But four months of negotiations ended without results.
Trump’s attitude toward Putin has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks. Trump has shown that he believes the Russian president does not want to engage in real negotiations over Ukraine.
“I think I will make a serious statement regarding Russia on Monday,” the American president said last night to NBC News, without giving further details.
Meanwhile, Trump announced that the United States agrees to continue supplying defensive weapons to Kyiv, which will be done through NATO.
Caption: France’s President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces Thierry Burkhard stand for a guard of honor during their visit to the French Air and Space Force (Armee de l’air et de l’espace) Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Air Base in Saint-Sauveur, north-eastern France, 18 March 2025. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
Updated: July 12, 2025 - 05:50
