INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday told Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in rare telephone talks that France is ready
contact between a senior Russian official close to President Vladimir Putin and a top minister from a European power has been rare in the
two years since Russia's invasion.The one-hour talks between Shoigu and Lecornu came as France steps up preparations to host the Olympic
The March 22 attack on a Moscow concert hall revived security fears for the Paris Games which begin on July 26.Lecornu told Shoigu that
France was always ready to face down "terrorism" and was prepared for "increased exchanges with the aim of fighting this threat as
effectively as possible," a French defense ministry statement said.Putin has acknowledged that "radical Islamists" conducted the attack in
Moscow that left at least 144 people dead, but suggested they were linked to Ukraine.Lecornu said that France had no information to
establish a link to Ukraine, calling on Moscow "to stop all instrumentalization" of the attack, the ministry said.Lecornu reiterated
"France's firm condemnation and solidarity with the victims and their families," the ministry said, adding that he "also unreservedly
condemned the war of aggression that Russia has launched in Ukraine."Lecornu reminded Shoigu that "France will continue to support Ukraine
as long and as intensely as necessary in its fight for freedom and sovereignty, in order to bring peace and security to the European
continent," the French ministry added.President Emmanuel Macron said in March that France had offered Russian security services "increased
Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said Wednesday that there was no "specific" terror threat to the Paris Olympics and that organizers were
planning to go ahead with the opening ceremony on the river Seine with hundreds of thousands lining the banks.France has been targeted by
Islamist extremists multiple times, and French authorities have asked foreign allies to send several thousand security forces to help guard
the Olympics, underlining the strains caused by the sporting extravaganza.The French leader tried in a series of phone calls in 2022 to warn
Putin against invading Ukraine and traveled to Moscow early that year.He kept up phone contact with Putin even after the invasion but talks
have now ceased, with the last call between the presidents dating back to September 2022.Macron has in recent months toughened his line
against Russia, refusing to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine.Lecornu and Shoigu last held phone talks in October
2022.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S
Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call in April 2023, and Shoigu spoke to U.S
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin the month before.Lavrov regularly travels to G20 meetings, but there is no indication he speaks directly with
