France rebukes Russian FM over claims on international law

France has sharply criticised remarks by Sergey Lavrov on international law, following his recent interview with France Télévisions.

In a statement published on X, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said that while Moscow presents itself as a defender of international law in the Middle East, it is in fact violating those same principles across multiple regions, including Ukraine, Georgia, Syria and Libya.

Réponse à l'interview de S. Lavrov du 26 mars 2026.
Répéter des mensonges n'en font pas des vérités. pic.twitter.com/i51StVFha0

— France Diplomatie 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo) March 27, 2026

French officials stressed that Russia’s references to international law serve primarily as a tool to justify its foreign policy, arguing that in practice, Moscow consistently breaches those norms.

The ministry added that such behaviour undermines confidence in the international legal system and, in its assessment, “reinforces Moscow’s propaganda line.”

The response came after Lavrov’s interview with France Télévisions, in which he addressed a range of major global crises, including the escalation in the Middle East and the ongoing situation surrounding Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova