French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed he did not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, saying the issue would “legitimately” arise if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines and Kyiv made such a request, in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.
The Economist said Macron gave the interview after delivering a keynote speech last week when he declared that Europe is “mortal” and could “die” partly due to the threat posed by Russian aggression after its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out,” said Macron when asked if he stood by comments earlier this year not excluding the sending of Western troops that sent shock waves around Europe.
Some analysts believe that Russia could be on the verge of launching a major new offensive in Ukraine.
Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine
Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine
Macron said “if Russia decided to go further, we will in any case all have to ask ourselves this question” of sending troops, describing his refusal to rule out such a move as a “strategic wake-up call for my counterparts”.
He described Russia as “a power of regional destabilisation” and “a threat to Europeans’ security”.
“I have a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine,” Macron said.
“If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe.
“Who can pretend that Russia will stop there? What security will there be for the other neighbouring countries, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and the others?” he asked.
Ukraine, West laud US aid package, as Russia warns of ‘further ruin’
Ukraine, West laud US aid package, as Russia warns of ‘further ruin’
Hidden Brexiteers
The French president also said all European nationalists were “hidden Brexiteers” during the interview, warning voters ahead of European elections next month.
“I say to Europeans: Wake up. Wake up! They are hidden Brexiteers. All European nationalists are hidden Brexiteers. It’s all the same lies,” he said.
“Make no mistake. If you entrust the keys to people who think like they do, there is no reason why Europe should become a great power,” he said.
“In a way it’s as if we were saying it’s not a problem if we entrust the bank to robbers. When they are around the table, they take Europe hostage.”
Macron gave the example of the French far-right National Rally (RN) party, which is now leading in opinion polls for the European contest, ahead of his own centrist alliance.
The RN “wanted to pull out of Europe, out of the euro, out of everything,” he said.
“Now it no longer says anything. It’s reaping the benefits of Europe, while wanting to destroy it without saying anything.
“And that’s true in every country,” he added.
He noted that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party has neo-fascist roots, had “a European approach” and had “supported the asylum and immigration pact”.
But “after that, the best way of building together is to have as few nationalists as possible”, he added.