France accuses Russia of deliberate war crimes in Ukraine, calls attacks 'terror approach'

rance has leveled a severe diplomatic accusation against Moscow, formally declaring that recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets constitute deliberate war crimes and a "terror approach." In a strongly worded statement on Monday, the French Foreign Ministry condemned an escalating pattern of attacks, including a lethal strike on a passenger train in Kharkiv, an assault on a bus carrying miners, and a bombing of a maternity hospital. The ministry asserted these actions represent a clear Russian strategy to destroy civilian infrastructure and terrorize the population, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

Cataloguing atrocities and a declared 'terror approach'

The French statement detailed several specific incidents it characterized as atrocities with no conceivable military justification. It highlighted the January 27 attack on a Kharkiv passenger train that killed five civilians, the February 1 strike on a miner's bus in Dnipropetrovsk that left 16 dead, and the bombing of a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia. The ministry argued that repeated strikes on Ukraine's railway network and energy grid reveal a calculated intent to cripple civilian life. "These cynical strikes on civilians constitute war crimes," the declaration stated, framing them as part of a broader, deliberate "terror approach" geared toward escalation.

Dismissing diplomacy as a 'delaying tactic'

In a significant commentary on the diplomatic front, France cast doubt on Russia's professed interest in a ceasefire. The statement directly addressed Moscow's announcement of a temporary pause in strikes on Kyiv's energy infrastructure following discussions in Abu Dhabi, characterizing it as a "delaying tactic." Paris argued this move is not a good-faith step toward peace but a strategic ploy "aimed at rejecting a comprehensive ceasefire and negotiations conducted in good faith." This assessment aligns with ongoing reports of continued attacks in other regions, despite US President Donald Trump's claim that he personally asked President Vladimir Putin to halt strikes during a period of extreme cold.

The geopolitical context and calls for accountability

The French condemnation arrives amid a complex international landscape. While the United States has engaged in direct, high-level appeals to Moscow, European powers like France are emphasizing legal accountability and the unacceptability of targeting civilians. The statement reinforces the Western position that Russia's actions are systematic violations of international law, not isolated incidents. For nations like Türkiye, which has pursued a balanced diplomatic role and facilitated critical negotiations, such stark accusations from a major European power highlight the deepening chasm between Russia and the West, complicating the path to mediation and underscoring the urgent need for a unified international stance to protect civilian lives and uphold humanitarian principles.