France calls Russian claims of nuclear transfers to Ukraine baseless

Paris: France hit ​back on Thursday over what it called baseless Russian accusations that Ukraine was seeking a nuclear weapon or dirty ⁠bomb with help from London or Paris, calling it ⁠the latest example of Russian disinformation.

In ‌a statement published on ​the fourth anniversary of the war, Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service said Britain and France believed that Ukraine would be able to secure more favourable ​terms if Kyiv ⁠possessed "a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called 'dirty bomb'".

It did not include documentary evidence to back its assertion.

"This baseless statement from ⁠the ‌SVR has been picked up by various Russian propaganda outlets on X and ‌by some foreign news agencies," Olivia Penichou, communications director ⁠at the French Ministry of Defence, told reporters on Thursday.

"The Russian Federation frequently ‌resorts to disinformation to foster a ‌climate of mistrust toward the actions taken ‌by France and its partners in ‌support of Ukraine. This latest attempt is a perfect illustration of that."

Penichou added that Paris had always honoured its international ⁠commitments, ⁠particularly those related to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

France's foreign ministry earlier in the week said it did not deem it worthy of responding to such blatant disinformation.

Its English-language @frenchresponse X handle posted several times ​mockingly to dismiss the Russian claims, including: "Russia, ​embarrassingly entering #year5 of ​their 3 day war against Ukraine: 'please look this way ! FR & UK ​deterrence is a threat !'"