Donetsk leader slams France for hypocritical stance on presence of mercenaries in Donbass

Paris is showing blatant hypocrisy by denying that there are French nationals fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces, Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), said.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne claimed that there were no French mercenaries in Ukraine.

"We understand from both intelligence data and developments along the line of contact that there are French citizens fighting on the side of Ukrainian armed units, on a contract basis. However, it’s clear why France is behaving this way, and is unable to acknowledge the fact. Their hypocrisy is the reason. Their laws ban mercenary activities and, if they recognize this [is happening], it would indicate a clear violation of the law," Pushilin told Rossiya-24 television.

He added that the French were acting based on "double standards." "They will deny and dismiss it all, but once they get the chance, they will say that this was the plan all along," the DPR head noted.