Russia summons French envoy over provocative rhetoric on Ukrainian crisis

The Russian foreign ministry summoned French Ambassador to Russia Pierre Levy on Monday over provocative statements regarding the Ukrainian conflict, it said in a statement, reported Xinhua.

The French ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Monday "in connection with...bellicose statements made by the French leadership," and France's growing involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, the foreign ministry said.

"Attempts made by the French authorities to create 'strategic uncertainty' for Russia with irresponsible statements on the possible dispatch of Western military contingents to Ukraine are doomed to fail," it added.