Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s Foreign Minister, has issued a grave warning, suggesting that a Russian triumph over Ukraine on the battlefield would unleash “chaos” on a global scale. His remarks came during a pivotal visit to Kyiv, a gesture that highlights France’s unwavering support for Ukraine. This visit follows a significant week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented his ambitious “victory plan” aimed at overcoming Russian aggression, alongside urgent calls for enhanced Western support.
In a joint appearance with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga, Barrot stated, “A Russian victory would institutionalize the dominance of the strongest, plunging international order into disarray.” He emphasized the necessity of advancing President Zelensky’s peace proposal, referring to a separate outline released by Zelensky that delineates Ukraine’s principles for achieving a fair and lasting peace.
Moreover, Barrot cautioned that the participation of North Korean troops in support of Russia poses a “significant threat of further escalation,” suggesting it could lead the conflict to expand beyond its current confines. South Korea’s intelligence agency revealed just yesterday that Pyongyang has decided to deploy a considerable number of troops to aid Moscow in its military campaign in Ukraine. Reports indicate that 1,500 special forces are already stationed in Russia’s Far East, presently engaged in training exercises.
In a coordinated show of support, U.S. President Joe Biden, along with leaders from Germany, France, and Britain, reaffirmed their “commitment to uphold Ukraine in its quest for a just and lasting peace.” Earlier this month, President Zelensky visited Paris as part of an urgent diplomatic mission to secure the backing of key allies.
While he has made significant strides in garnering support, Zelensky has yet to find consensus on the specifics of his “victory plan.” The central tenet of this plan—an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join NATO—is largely perceived as far-fetched. Furthermore, the blueprint categorically dismisses any concessions of territory, calls for the lifting of existing restrictions on employing donated long-range weaponry against Russian military installations, and proposes the establishment of a “non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” within Ukraine’s borders.
In a related development, Ukraine and Russia have successfully executed a prisoner swap, each repatriating 95 prisoners of war in an arrangement mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The Russian Defense Ministry announced via Telegram that the returning servicemen were receiving medical evaluations in Belarus, a close ally of Russia in the ongoing conflict.
A video shared on Zelensky’s Telegram channel depicted former captives returning home, many wrapped in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, stepping off buses late into the evening, joyfully embraced by family and friends. Concurrently, a video released by the Russian military showcased smiling soldiers boarding buses, a contrast to the sentiments expressed by the liberated Ukrainian fighters.
“Every time we bring our people back from Russian prisons, we move closer to the day when freedom reigns for all those still detained by Russia,” Zelensky articulated in a heartfelt message. He highlighted that the freed individuals had served on various fronts, including some brave defenders of the port city of Mariupol, who held out for nearly three months in 2022.
Among those freed was Maksym Butkevych, a Ukrainian journalist and human rights advocate, who had been sentenced by a Russian court for allegedly firing on Russian troops. The last prisoner swap, which involved a total of 103 individuals from each side, occurred back in September.
The organization overseeing prisoner affairs reported that 48 of the returnees had faced sentences under Russian law. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, noted that this release marks the 58th swap since the war’s inception, contributing to a total of 3,767 prisoners returned thus far.
A private Russian group advocating for prisoners’ rights also published a list of those exchanged, indicating that most of them were apprehended in the Kursk region, which saw significant Ukrainian military activity in August. Zelensky once again referenced operations involving soldiers who “replenish the exchange fund,” implying that the capture of Russian soldiers serves as a strategic measure in negotiations.
Ukrainian forces remain active in the Kursk area, even as claims surface from Russia’s military about recovering some territories. The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry, as reported by state media, described the swap as the ninth mediation effort by the Gulf state in this conflict, underscoring the UAE’s supportive and diplomatic engagement with both nations.
This latest exchange not only aims to alleviate humanitarian concerns but has also sparked discussions about the broader implications of ongoing military actions and the quest for durable peace.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
