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Philippe Migault/IRIS : "la #Russie a intérêt à ce que la situation se calme et se fige" http://t.co/EhaloCR3wL #Ukraine



— Anna Markonova (@AnnaMarkonova) May 5, 2014

France's intelligence chief has questioned NATO's claims of Russia preparing to attack Ukraine as their agents failed to spot any activities signaling this - either before or after the crisis began.A statement by the chief of France's military intelligence, General Christophe Gomart, was published on the National Assembly's website.NATO's top brass has been incanting mantras about a "Russian invasion" ever since the crisis in Ukraine began a year ago. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as his predecessor Anders Fogh Rasmussen, have lashed at Russia on numerous occasions, claiming that the Russian military is present on the ground in Ukraine, but failing to provide evidence supporting these claims."Our conclusion eventually proved correct because even if some Russian soldiers had indeed been seen on the Ukrainian side of the border, it was just a ploy, meant to bring pressure to bear on President Poroshenko, rather than an attempt to invade Ukraine," General Gomart said.Russian MPs hailed Gomart's comments, dubbing them "a cold shower" amidst "anti-Russian hysteria in the West."Meanwhile, on Friday five Northern European states, non-NATO Finland and Sweden included, signed a declaration on the expansion of military cooperation to counter "Russian aggression against Ukraine."Since Finland and Sweden intend to interact with NATO on a matching contribution basis, which might indicate a desire to join the alliance, Moscow will view this declaration as an act of aggression, Norwegian defense analyst Janne Haaland Matlary warned."Finland and Sweden have also decided to keep their exercises to NATO standards, which implies a step on the way toward NATO. Today, there are no political grounds for them to join NATO, public opinion is not frightened enough, and referendums will be required. But what is happening now still looks like a preparation for membership," Matlary told Aftenposten newspaper on Friday.