Director of the European Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Artyom Studnikov, said on Wednesday that France's participation in the conflict in Ukraine will make it a party to the conflict, which will significantly increase the risk of a clash on the battlefield between two nuclear powers. Studnikov said in an interview with Sputnik: 'The participation of French military personnel in the Ukrainian conflict will officially make France, by law, a party to it, and this will inevitably significantly increase the risk of a clash between two nuclear powers on the battlefield, which is fraught with unpredictable consequences.' He pointed out that "the French army will be a legitimate target for our armed forces." He added: "Are the French ready to die for the interests of the neo-Nazi Ukrainian and Anglo-Saxon regime that oversees it? What will the French authorities explain to the families of the victims? It seems to me that the official Paris has a lot to think about here." He continued: "I would like to hope that in the French ruling elite, if not reason (it is difficult to rely on that), then at least the instinct of self-preservation, one way or another, we are prepared for any development of events." Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the European Union agreed to create the 'Ninth Deep Strike Alliance' to supply Ukraine with medium- and long-range missiles. He also said that France would do everything in its power to prevent Russia "from winning this war." According to him, the leaders of Western countries have discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, and a consensus has not yet been reached, 'but nothing can be ruled out.' During his meeting with opposition leaders in early March, Macron stressed that France had 'no borders and no red lines' on the issue of aid to Ukraine. Later, Macron said he did not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine if Russia penetrates the front lines and there is a request from Ukraine. According to him, "many countries" agre ed with the French approach regarding the possible dispatch of troops. Source: National Iraqi News Agency