The US correctly assessed that Russia was planning a large-scale invasion, while France concluded it was unlikely.

Gen Vidaud was blamed for that by France’s military chief, a source said.

However, the military source told AFP news agency that his job was to provide “military intelligence on operations, not on premeditation”. As Gen Vidaud’s service concluded that Russia had the means to invade Ukraine, the source said that “what happened proves him right”.

Early in March the head of French armed forces, Gen Thierry Burkhard acknowledged that French intelligence had not been up to the level of US or UK briefings, which were publicised to pile pressure on Russia’s Vladimir Putin. “The Americans said that the Russians were going to attack, they were right,” he told Le Monde newspaper.