Macron clashes with Putin over nuclear deterrence in Europe

In a televised address on Wednesday, Macron warned that Russia’s rapid military build-up, fuelled by its ongoing war in Ukraine, could pose a threat to other European nations. He insisted that Russia must be met with strong deterrence, including the prospect of France’s nuclear umbrella protecting Europe. The Kremlin, in response, accused Macron of dangerous nuclear rhetoric and drew historical comparisons to previous failed attempts to conquer Russia.

However, Macron remained defiant. “I know President Putin well. If he’s reacting like that, it’s because he knows what I said is true,” he stated in Brussels. The French leader argued that Putin’s outrage is rooted in the exposure of Russia’s long-term war strategy. “He was probably piqued by the fact we’re exposing his game,” Macron asserted, adding that the aggressive reaction from Moscow suggested that its war ambitions extended beyond Ukraine.