Billede
© Reuters/Gleb GaranichA Ukrainian serviceman rides on a self-propelled howitzer near Artemivsk
Frankrigs efterretningschef har stillet spørgsmål ved NATOs påstande om at Rusland forbereder at angribe Ukraine, da deres efterretningsfolk ikke er istand til at finde aktiviteter som ville signalere det - hverken før eller efter at krisen begyndte.

En erklæring fra chefen for det franske miliærs efterretningstjeneste, General Christophe Gomart, blev publiceret på det franske folketings hjemmeside (National Assembly's).

"NATO annoncerer at russerne er klar til at invadere Ukraine. Men, ifølge det franske efterretningsvæsen, så er der intet som bekræfter denne hypotese - vi fastslog at russerne har hverken opsat kommandoposter eller logistik faciliteter såsom felthospitaler, som ville være nødvendige for en militær grænseoverskridelse," fortalte general Gomart en parlementarisk høring.
Général #ChristopheGomart du #DRM condamne les mensonges de la foutaise #USA et du #KievJunta http://t.co/Vgq60V0kgS pic.twitter.com/jra3Wy9O6m

— ☭ #VivaSAA Rafiq ☭ (@Rafiq_al_Taneen) April 11, 2015
NATOs toppen har tranceagtigt råbt op om en "russisk invasion" lige siden krisen i Ukraine startede for et år siden. NATOs generalsekretær Jens Stoltenberg, såvel som hans forgænger Anders Fogh Rasmussen, har gang på gang revset Rusland og hævdet at russisk militær er tilstede på jorden i Ukraine, men har manglet at give beviser for disse påstande.


Kommentar: Vi undskylder at resten af denne artikel er på engelsk, men fandt det vigtigt at den også kom til dagslys for danske læsere.


"Our conclusion eventually proved correct because even if some Russian soldiers had indeed been seen on the Ukrainian side of the border, it was just a ploy, meant to bring pressure to bear on President Poroshenko, rather than an attempt to invade Ukraine," General Gomart said.
93% of #Donbass Civilians Say Alienated from Kiev Forever http://t.co/aQ9kUEogZH pic.twitter.com/VMlGu2CsfO

— Russia Insider (@RussiaInsider) April 9, 2015
The French intelligence chief's remarks came in the context of France's role in NATO. Gomart noted that at the moment the alliance is dominated by US intelligence, while France's intelligence is taken not taken into consideration so much.

"France will not be fooled. France has its own sources of information and we are aware what the explanation for the crisis in Ukraine is," Philippe Migault, expert on Ukraine from the University of International and Strategic Relations, told Sputnik news agency after Gomart's remarks were published.
Philippe Migault/IRIS : "la #Russie a intérêt à ce que la situation se calme et se fige" http://t.co/EhaloCR3wL #Ukraine

— Anna Markonova (@AnnaMarkonova) May 5, 2014
Russian MPs hailed Gomart's comments, dubbing them "a cold shower" amidst "anti-Russian hysteria in the West."

Frants Klintsevich, of the United Russia party, said the report showed US intelligence has been working to fulfill a political order.

Meanwhile, on Friday five Northern European states, non-NATO Finland and Sweden included, signed a declaration on the expansion of military cooperation to counter "Russian aggression against Ukraine."

Since Finland and Sweden intend to interact with NATO on a matching contribution basis, which might indicate a desire to join the alliance, Moscow will view this declaration as an act of aggression, Norwegian defense analyst Janne Haaland Matlary warned.

"Finland and Sweden have also decided to keep their exercises to NATO standards, which implies a step on the way toward NATO. Today, there are no political grounds for them to join NATO, public opinion is not frightened enough, and referendums will be required. But what is happening now still looks like a preparation for membership," Matlary told Aftenposten newspaper on Friday.