French defence minister: held talks with Russia counterpart Shoigu

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the attack was carried out by Islamic militants, but suggested it was also to the benefit of Ukraine and that Kyiv may have played a role.

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu had held talks on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu during the course of which he had reaffirmed that France condemned Russia's "war of aggression" in Ukraine, Lecornu's office said in a statement. It was the first call between the two leaders since October 2022, a spokesperson of France's defence ministry said.

Lecornu in the call also expressed France's solidarity with the victims of last month's attack by gunmen in Moscow which killed more than 100 people, his office stated. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the attack was carried out by Islamic militants, but suggested it was also to the benefit of Ukraine and that Kyiv may have played a role. This has been denied by Ukraine and its Western allies.

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