France pleaded on Thursday for maintaining a “dialogue” with Russia on research, particularly regarding ice and poles.
“We voluntarily isolated Russia because of the war (…). Each period has its decisions. “But it is not because at some point there will be a conflict that will lead us to break off all relations in the long term,” French Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau told AFP.
She was speaking on the sidelines of an international summit on glaciers and poles organized by the French presidency in Paris.
France “speaks out clearly and does what is necessary at the right time, but we must maintain dialogue (with Russia).” “France is a country that collaborates enormously in science and research with many countries in these areas,” she said.
The minister delivered a speech at the One Planet Polar Summit to warn about melting ice caused by global warming and suggest recommendations.
“We will not be able to solve these challenges at the French or European level. When we talk about the Arctic and Antarctic poles and climate, we need a database that represents the planet,” said Sylvie Retailleau.
“We will lack data on permafrost (in Russia), and that is problematic,” she cited as an example. In Russia there is actually a significant part of permafrost – permanently frozen ground – also known by the English name permafrost.
The country is the subject of Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which, for example, result in a ban on the import of Russian oil into the EU.