Macron: France has entered a 'strategic confrontation' with Russia 0 35

Macron described Russia as one of the 'main threats' to the countries of the European Union and NATO in an interview with RTL radio. He expressed his views ahead of another meeting of the participating countries of the 'coalition of the willing' created to support Ukraine.

The French leader specifically expressed concern that France and other EU countries are within reach of Russian intercontinental missiles.

'It (Russia) produces submarines, missiles, tanks, and finances armies in third countries to send them to the Ukrainian front or threaten us tomorrow if we are weak, because it has a whole range of weapons. And we are within reach of these weapons. Intercontinental ballistic missiles — we are all vulnerable to them,' said Macron.

According to him, 'this is the reality of the threat,' and the French 'would be wrong to show weakness in the face of this threat.'

'If we, the French, want to protect ourselves — and I am solely obsessed with this — we must show that we are not weak in the face of the force that threatens us the most,' stated the French president.

Macron claims that Russia is conducting a 'hybrid war' in Europe and France. He stated that Moscow allegedly 'provokes with statements on nuclear issues, conducts cyberattacks, and engages in information warfare aimed at undermining morale.' The French leader also mentioned as measures of influence that Russia allegedly resorts to 'provocations through immigration, through drones.' Macron called this a 'strategic confrontation.'

Speaking about the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, the French president said that Europe wants peace, but not one that 'will actually be a capitulation' of Ukraine and 'give Russia full freedom to go further <…> and threaten collective security' in Europe.

In response to a journalist's remark that, according to some claims, this plan was written by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron replied that he would not dispute anyone's motives, but 'no one can determine for Ukrainians what territorial concessions they are willing to make.'

When asked what 'red lines' are currently outlined in this plan, Macron stated: 'The only red line that you have had for three and a half years, do not forget about it, is called Russia.'