France’s Macron hits back at Russian fury over nuclear rhetoric, says Kremlin feels exposed
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French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russia was rearming quickly on the back of its invasion of Ukraine and could attack more countries.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRUSSELS – French President Emmanuel Macron on March 6 hit back at Russia, after the Kremlin warned him not to threaten it with nuclear rhetoric and drew comparisons with French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s failed conquest of Russia.
In a solemn address on March 5, Mr Macron warned the French nation that Russia was rearming quickly on the back of its invasion of Ukraine
“I know (Russian President Vladimir Putin) well. If he’s reacting like that, it’s because he knows what I said is true,” Mr Macron told reporters at an European Union (EU) summit in Brussels.
“He’s making a historical error: Napoleon waged conquests. The only imperialistic power I see in Europe right now is Russia,” he said, responding to a question posed by a Russian journalist in exile in France.
Mr Macron said he knew Mr Putin could betray his word, because he had done just that when he did not respect the Minsk agreements signed with France, Germany and Ukraine after the invasion of Crimea in 2014.
He also said the reactions in Moscow on March 6 were probably so vociferous because Russia's intentions to continue waging war with Europe eventually, if a rushed peace treaty in Ukraine is signed, had been uncovered.
“He was probably piqued by the fact we’re exposing his game,” Mr Macron said.
Responding to a question on US President Donald Trump’s comments questioning whether France would come to the US’ rescue if it was attacked, Mr Macron said France and other European countries had joined US troops in fighting in Afghanistan after 9/11.
“Not only the French, but the Europeans were there when we were called for Afghanistan. And by the way, they weren’t politely warned when (the US left Afghanistan),” Mr Macron said. “We are loyal and faithful allies.”
Mr Macron also said he had been approached by other leaders all day during an EU summit in Brussels about his offer to extend French nuclear deterrence to the rest of Europe and hopes to see cooperation by the end of the first half of 2025, after technical talks with other leaders.
He has invited other EU leaders to a meeting of European army chiefs in Paris on March 11, he said. REUTERS
