France, Canada Still Seek Diplomatic Solution To Russian-Ukrainian Crisis

Russian aggression in Ukraine remains a concern for western countries, but some governments still believe in finding a “political solution” to the crisis. At least that's the common position of Jean-Yves Le Drian and Robert Nicholson, the French and Canadian defense ministers, respectively.

Asked if they would follow the U.S. if President Obama opts to supply lethal weapons to an embattled Kiev, Le Drian insisted that France would make its own decisions, and is not inclined to follow America's lead.

“We are more or less of the same opinion as that of our Canadian friends,” Le Drian said during a joint press conference Feb. 4 in Paris. “We need to find a political solution to this crisis. The Russian position is not acceptable.”

His Canadian counterpart, Robert Nicholson, reminded reporters that Ottawa “has already provided non-lethal weapons to Ukraine.”

Nicholson said a decision on sending additional support would come in the next six months, following a Canadian troop deployment to Iraq that is expected to end in May. “Until now,” he said, Ottawa had been pleased with diplomatic progress aimed at ending the crisis.

The ministers met in Paris to sign a pair of cooperative defense agreements, including the formation of a defense council that will be organized to deepen collaborative ties between both nations in the areas of “strategy, operations, research and armaments.” A memorandum of agreement was also signed to allow senior military officers from each country to spend time in the other's military school. The agreements stem from earlier cooperation that began in June 2013, followed by French President Francois Hollande's visit to Canada in November last year.