Macron vows France will NEVER support 'crushing' Russia despite Putin's war crimes

Macron vows France will NEVER support 'crushing' Russia despite Putin's war crimes
WOLFGANG RATTAY
Carl Bennett

By Carl Bennett


Published: 19/02/2023

- 12:36

Macron has been accused of being weak throughout the conflict by some NATO allies

French President Emmanuel Macron does not want to see Russia crushed by Ukraine as the war between the two countries continues.

He said that France's position has never been to crush Russia and it never will be.


It comes after Macron urged Western allies to step up their military support for Ukraine saying that now is not the time for dialogue with Moscow.

Speaking to French media, Macron said: “I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able do defend its position.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a plenary meeting of the Forum for the Islam of France (FORIF) at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, February 16, 2023. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS
POOL

“I do not think, as some people do, that we must aim for a total defeat of Russia, attacking Russia on its own soil.

“Those observers want to, above all else, crush Russia. That has never been the position of France and it will never be our position.”

On Friday, he told the Munich Security Conference that now was the time to help Ukraine “launch a counter-offensive which alone can allow credible negotiations, determined by Ukraine, its authorities and its people”.

Macron has previously been criticised by Nato allies for delivering what they believe are mixed messages regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia, with some considering Paris a weak link in the Western alliance.

Responding to his comments in the French media on Sunday, Russia attacked Macron saying Moscow still remembered the fate of Napoleon Bonaparte and accusing the French president of duplicitous diplomacy with the Kremlin.

"About 'Never': France did not begin with Macron, and the remains of Napoleon, revered at the state level, rest in the centre of Paris. France - and Russia - should understand," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"In general, Macron is priceless," she said, adding that his remarks showed the West had engaged in discussions about regime change in Russia while Macron had repeatedly sought meetings with the Russian leadership.

Britain’s support for President Zelensky’s war with Putin continues, but Defence Secertary Ben Wallace warned last week that the conflict has exposed the vulnerability of Europe’s defences.

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the European leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium February 9, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman
YVES HERMAN

Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, said Rishi Sunak will invest in military spending for Wallace.

She said: “We’ve been clear in the autumn statement the defence spending needs an uplift. I can’t comment on the figures because we have to hear the budget.

“We’re going to give Ukraine more in the next few months than we did in the presiding twelve months.”

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