PARIS (Reuters) -France’s minister for European affairs said on Tuesday that French military support for Ukraine would continue despite political turbulence in Paris, as France awaited the nomination of its fifth prime minister in less than two years.
Benjamin Haddad, who has survived two prime ministers since being named as President Emmanuel Macron’s main interlocutor with European partners a year ago, said his trip to Ukraine on Thursday had been confirmed, whoever was named premier.
“Support for Ukraine is really a transpartisan issue, from the Socialists to the Republicans and the centre,” he told Reuters. “It’s absolutely fundamental for our country’s interest.”
“Our defence budget has been preserved, its increase has been protected over the past few years, and it will continue,” he added. “I’ll be in Ukraine this week, it’s one of the strong messages I will deliver.”
Macron has pledged to provide an extra 2 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year.
Haddad declined to speculate on who Macron could name to replace Francois Bayrou, who lost a confidence vote on Monday over how to address a gaping budget deficit.
Government sources said Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu was poised to get the job, signalling continuity.
(Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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