Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will visit Mauritius on February 20, Madagascar on February 20 and 21 and Mozambique on February 21 and 22.

This visit will provide an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest in our Indian Ocean neighborhood with close partner countries, notably with respect to maritime security, economic development and the fight against climate disruption, to which France is strongly committed.

Our close bilateral cooperation with each of these countries will also be discussed.

• In Mauritius, Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet with Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, as well as with his counterpart, Nandcoomar Bodha. Agreements will be signed in order to strengthen our cooperation in the economic development, environmental and education spheres. He will exchange views with the French-Mauritius business community and visit the Uniciti Education Hub campus in Pierrefonds. The minister will also meet with Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission Hamada Madi in order to discuss France's upcoming presidency of the Commission in 2021 and our support for efforts to modernize this body.

• In Madagascar, Jean-Yves Le Drian will be received by President Andry Rajoelina. He will reaffirm France's determination to be a leading partner of the Initiative for the Emergence of Madagascar. Jean-Yves Le Drian will also meet with his counterpart, Djacoba Tehindrazanarivelo, with whom he will discuss our priorities with respect to regional issues and the Indo-Pacific region. He will highlight the regional integration of French overseas territories in the Indian Ocean by inaugurating the Mayotte representative office at the Embassy of France. Decentralized cooperation between France and Madagascar will be highlighted through a visit to Antananarivo Upper Town, whose restoration is being supported by the Ile-de-France region. Jean-Yves Le Drian will confirm France's renewed support for the strengthening of education and the protection of biodiversity in Madagascar.

• In Mozambique, Jean-Yves Le Drian will be received by President Filipe Nyusi and will meet with his counterpart, Veronica Macamo. The minister will discuss strengthening our cooperation on maritime security, the fight against climate change, and the protection of biodiversity. He will meet with representatives of French companies with a presence in Mozambique whose investments, particularly in gas projects in the north of the country, will help create more than 14,000 jobs in the coming years. The minister will also meet with representatives of the Forum des Femmes, a Mozambican association promoting women's autonomy and solidarity, and will visit the DREAM center of the community of Sant-Egidio, a treatment center for AIDS victims supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Ukraine – Fighting near Zolote (February 17, 2020)

France deplores the intense fighting that took place on February 17 near Zolote, in Ukraine, resulting in further military casualties. The ceasefire violations and use of heavy weapons are in breach of the Minsk Agreement and the conclusions of the summit of heads of state and government held on December 9.

France calls on the parties to exercise restraint, to avoid further escalation on the ground. It calls, notably, on Russia to use its considerable influence on the armed formations it supports to ensure that the ceasefire is fully enforced.

France remains strongly committed to the full restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

It is working steadfastly on efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiations in the Normandy format.