Paris Military Parade Sends a Clear Message to Russia
France says the Bastille Day parade in Paris showed European unity, support for Ukraine and growing military mobilization in response to Russia.
French authorities presented the Bastille Day military parade in Paris as a demonstration of European unity and a direct signal to Russia. More than 6,000 troops from European countries, including members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, took part in the event, alongside nearly 100 aircraft and over 300 armored vehicles.
French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said the parade was intended to symbolize a «European awakening» and greater collective mobilization amid the conflict in Ukraine.
According to her, European countries had not been inactive, but they were now acting in a far more coordinated and focused manner. Paris places particular importance on supporting Ukraine and creating mechanisms designed to strengthen Kyiv’s position.
Vautrin said the European Union was prepared to continue assisting Ukraine in its pursuit of peace. She linked this process to the work of the coalition of the willing and to the creation of a new anti-ballistic coalition proposed by the Ukrainian side.
The French minister described Russia as a threat to Ukraine and connected the course of the conflict with the security of the entire European continent. In her interpretation, further European mobilization should help secure peace both in Ukraine and across the wider region.
She also stressed that France considers itself one of the leading states within the group supporting Kyiv. Paris intends to continue playing a central role in coordinating this policy.
Vautrin argued that Europe must publicly demonstrate unity in defending its own security. She said the French authorities view support for Ukraine as protection of the entire continent, claiming that other European countries could face a similar threat after Ukraine.
The French government uses this argument to justify the continuation of its political and military support for Kyiv.