Moscow accuses Paris of provoking escalation in Caucasus

France is provoking another bout of escalation in the South Caucasus with its sale of Caesar howitzers to Armenia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Paris is provoking another spiral of military confrontation in the South Caucasus. This is the latest step. <…> You can see yet another proof," Zakharova said.

According to Zakharova, Paris is seeking to use the existing differences in and between countries as an instrument for achieving its own opportunistic goals.

"The conjunctural goals imply not only the personal interests of the Élysée Palace but also France being a proponent of NATO ideology. I think this is how one should approach this," Zakharova said.

This week, the French and Armenian defense chiefs signed a contract envisaging selling Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Yerevan.