France has specific proposals for Ukraine aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining. In particular, it is planned to send a high-level technical adviser to the Embassy of the French Republic in Ukraine to deal with humanitarian demining in Ukraine. This was discussed during a meeting between the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and the Minister of the Interior of France Gérald Darmanin on 9 November 2023 in Paris.

“We are grateful for the political, humanitarian and military support that Ukraine has received from France since the beginning of the Russian aggression. This includes assistance and cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining, including training of our pyrotechnics. We see a great interest of French companies to work in Ukraine in the field of demining, recovery, and interest in establishing contacts and joint ventures with Ukrainian business. In turn, the Government of Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the Government of France to ensure that cooperation between French and Ukrainian manufacturers is strengthened and developed,” said Yulia Svyrydenko.

In his turn, Gérald Darmanin said that several French humanitarian demining companies are already operating in Ukraine. Other companies are also considering this possibility. The French government will communicate with them to get them more involved in this process.

As discussed during the meeting, France is also ready to continue training Ukrainian pyrotechnics. In particular, sappers who will specialise in underwater demining. The country also has a well-developed training programme for mine-sniffing dogs, so French experts are ready to assist Ukraine in this area as well.

The parties also discussed other areas of cooperation during the meeting. In particular, they discussed Ukraine’s interest in investment, establishment of joint ventures, long-term lending, and military risk insurance programmes.

The parties also discussed the search for approaches to using the frozen assets of the aggressor state to restore or compensate for the damage caused by russia.