France is ramping up its intelligence cooperation with Ukraine as Washington temporarily halts military and intelligence support, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed in an interview with France 24 on March 6.
France Fills the Intelligence Gap
Lecornu emphasized that France is fully committed to assisting Kyiv, stating, "Our intelligence is sovereign, with our own capabilities. We are passing this on to the Ukrainians."
His comments come amid growing concerns that the U.S. suspension of military and intelligence cooperation could weaken Ukraine's ability to respond to Russia’s ongoing offensives.
"We Must Compensate for U.S. Withdrawal"
Speaking before the French National Assembly, Prime Minister François Bayrou stressed that France and its European allies must step up to fill the void left by the U.S. decision.
He outlined key priorities for bolstering Ukraine’s defenses, including:
Supplying ammunition
Providing intelligence systems
Enhancing access to strategic networks and connectivity
U.S. Confirms Intelligence Pause
Earlier, CIA Director John Ratcliffe acknowledged that the U.S. has placed a temporary hold on intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Fox News correspondent Edward Lawrence reported that Ratcliffe expressed optimism that the suspension would be lifted soon, stating he looks forward to "working with Ukraine towards peace."
White House officials have framed the pause as part of broader efforts to pressure Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from European leaders and security experts.
With Washington’s assistance in question, Ukraine is increasingly reliant on European allies like France, the UK, and Germany to continue supplying weapons, intelligence, and logistical support.
