国际英语新闻:France opposes arming Ukraine to end deadlock: FM

PARIS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minsiter Laurent Fabius on Wednesday reiterated France's opposition to arm Ukrainian forces, hoping to halt violence in Ukraine by a diplomatic initiative.

Asked by France Inter Radio about whether France would send weapons to Kiev after Britain said it reserved the right to arm Ukraine government forces, Fabius said "(sending weapons) is not among our plans."

"We think arming is not the solution in the case of Ukraine. We believe the solution is a political one," Fabius added.

Despite a new round of violence in Ukraine and "a number of problems which remain to be resolved", the meeting between the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia "is very likely to go ahead".

"It is really a last-chance negotiation," Fabius said.