A defense analyst warns that VLADIMIR PUTIN may decide to make France one of Ukraine’s “co-belligerents,” thereby pushing France into conflict with Russia.

Tensions in France have risen since Emmanuel Macron’s government confirmed military sales to Ukraine – a first for the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began – over the potential of war with Russia escalation. Until late April, France declined to back Ukraine because of concern of escalating into a conflict. France has now helped Ukraine with €100 million in armaments and artillery to protect itself against Russian forces. According to defense specialist Jérôme Pellistrandi, the measure might “tip” France over the edge of conflict with Russia.

Speaking to French broadcaster BFM TV, Mr. Pellistrandi said: “If Putin considers that helping Ukraine with military means is co-belligerence, he could indeed say so.”

However, the legal definition of co-belligerence — an informal military alliance with a foreign government to conduct war against a shared enemy – does not exist in international law, making it more malleable.

Mr. Pellistrandi said added: “Co-belligerence is not a legal concept in international law.

“A state is free to help, to provide support in any form whatsoever to another state, all the more so because the latter has been attacked.

“This is the case with Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign state which has been attacked by Russia.

“And so it is legitimate to be able to help it in various ways, including through military aid.”

History has demonstrated that a foreign government can assist another in its war effort through a variety of tactics without becoming a co-belligerent.

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