Ukraine’s fall would cause a tidal wave of “10 million migrants” fleeing to Europe, France has warned, adding that it has seen evidence that Russia “won’t stop” at its conquest of the country, reports The Telegraph.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Stéphane Séjourné, the French foreign minister, said: “First of all, there is a risk of Ukraine collapsing and there are consequences to this risk.
“We’re talking about 10 million Ukrainians who could leave Ukraine in the event of a collapse. And we know very well, and have information, that Russia will not stop there.”
Mr Séjourné singled out Moldova as Vladimir Putin’s next target.
The warning comes after The Telegraph revealed that Russia is using mercenaries to control migration into Europe to try to destabilise governments.
Border police have identified the possibility that Putin will flood Europe with migrants, both through its eastern borders and through the regions in Africa controlled by his private militias, as a major security risk for this year.