Jean-Noel Barrot and Andriy Sibiga in Kyiv: DW.
Kyiv, 19 October – The involvement of North Korean troops in the war on the side of Russia will be a significant escalation of the war against Ukraine. This statement was made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga in Kyiv, stressing that it would seriously deepen the conflict and could have unpredictable consequences.
Barro, who visited Ukraine for the first time since his appointment in September, warned that the participation of North Korean troops would mean another attempt for Russia to strengthen its position, but would also demonstrate its weakness in the war. He stressed that this would be a new stage in the conflict, Reuters reported.
The danger of global escalation
“If North Korea does send its regular troops to Ukraine, it will be an extremely dangerous escalation step that will take the war to a new, more threatening level,” Barro said. The minister also noted that such a development would only underscore that Russia is in a difficult position on the battlefield.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga echoed his French counterpart’s words, stressing the enormous risks involved. “This could lead to the expansion of the war beyond the current scale and borders, which poses a great threat to security in Europe,” he said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously accused North Korea of intending to send up to 10,000 troops to assist Russian forces. Although NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that there is no concrete evidence of North Korean military presence in Ukraine, the threat of this scenario is alarming.
France continues to support Ukraine
During his visit to Kyiv, Jean-Noël Barrot also announced that France is funding the creation of two new centres for the protection of war-affected children in eastern Ukraine. This is part of the humanitarian assistance that Paris continues to provide to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
In addition, Barrot stressed that France supports the idea of Ukraine joining NATO and is ready to continue consultations on this issue. “We are open to inviting Ukraine to join NATO, and this issue is being actively discussed with our partners,” he said.
At the same time, President Zelenskyy, speaking earlier this week, presented his “victory plan”, which aims to end the war no later than 2025. One of the key components of the plan is Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which he said would ensure the country’s long-term security.
The potential involvement of North Korea in a war against Ukraine opens up dangerous prospects for further escalation of the conflict. France, together with Ukraine, calls on the international community to be vigilant and step up its support to prevent the expansion of the war and guarantee security in Europe.
