“We will be ready to make decisions so that Russia does not win”

2024-03-14 21:50:00

Less than three months before the European elections, Emmanuel Macron explained to the French the issues of support for Ukraine, following his controversial remarks on the possible sending of Western soldiers, in the face of a Russia accused of being more in addition ” threatening ” in Europe. This Thursday, at “20H” on TF1 and France 2, he “ assumed ” his comments.

“Existential War”

For him, the war in Ukraine is “uno existential war for Europe and France “, unfolding ” less than 1,500 kilometers from Strasbourg ».

“All options are possible” and “the only one with responsibility will be the Kremlin (…)” To have peace, you must not be weak “, declared Emmanuel Macron.

“This start of 2024 must be that of a start (…). I hope that Russia will stop this war and withdraw (…). We will do what is necessary to achieve our objectives (…) We will be ready to make decisions so that Russia does not win,” he said.

And to add: “ If Russia were to win, the lives of the French would have to change because we would no longer be safe. The security of Europe and the French would be threatened » and the “ Europe’s credibility will be reduced to zero “. Because for Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin will not “stop” with Ukraine if it wins the war. “ Russia is a destabilizing power ».

Threats on Emmanuel Macron’s trip to kyiv

Europeans

This intervention also de facto marks the head of state’s entry into the campaign, following his camp’s first meeting last Saturday in Lille. Emmanuel Macron spoke in the wake of the first major European debate, on Public Senate, with all the heads of the list except the favorite Jordan Bardella, represented on behalf of the National Rally by Thierry Mariani, a MEP renowned for being close to Moscow. The presidential camp intends in particular to focus its campaign on support for Ukraine, accusing the RN, well ahead in the polls, and La France insoumise of maintaining pro-Russian positions.

For the Head of State, those who pose “ limits » to the commitment to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion « do not choose peace but choose defeat ». « They are choosing to abandon sovereignty because they are choosing now to say: we have limits. “, declared Emmanuel Macron.

The National Assembly and the Senate largely approved this week the bilateral security agreement signed with kyiv, but the debates in Parliament revealed divisions far from this apparent consensus on support for Ukraine.

Investigation: the European Parliament, a hotbed of Russian interference

The opposition is winding down

Emmanuel Macron was accused of “sblow on the embers » of the war by the oppositions of the right and the left, at the end of his television interview.

« Does he want to wage war on Russia or occupy political space in the middle of the European campaign? », asked Republican boss Eric Ciotti regarding X. Adding, three months before the election: “ Support Ukraine, yes. Blowing on the embers of a potential global conflict for electoral purposes, no ».

For his part, the leader of the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon warned: “ If we fuel the war, we end up making it ourselves. Those who want peace prepare peace. He no ».

Jean-Luc Mélenchon also estimated that “ the president is scary », following the head of state notably mentioned a war “existential for our Europe and for France ». « If the situation deteriorates, we must be ready and we will be ready », Declared Emmanuel Macron, who had caused trouble at the end of February by not excluding the sending of ground troops to Ukraine.

« Macron did not reassure. In reality France is diplomatically isolated » For her part, estimated the head of the Ecologists Marine Tondelier. The boss of the communists Fabien Roussel castigated “ irresponsibility and cynicism » by Emmanuel Macron, “ pushed to their climax ”, while this one would be “ ready to declare war on Russia » pour « hide its failure in France ».

« We have the impression that Emmanuel Macron is playing war like Playmobil », For his part, quipped the head of the Reconquest list! to the Europeans Marion Maréchal.