Ukraine aid

“Macron’s belligerent stance worries the country”

Emmanuel Macron has recently attracted attention for his particularly harsh rhetoric with regard to the Ukraine conflict.(Bild: APA/AFP/Ludovic MARIN)

French President Emmanuel Macron's statement at the end of February that Western ground troops could not be ruled out as military aid for Ukraine not only set alarm bells ringing in Moscow, but also offended many NATO allies. The opposition parties in France are also extremely concerned.

"His belligerent stance, which does not rule out the deployment of French soldiers, is worrying the country," said right-wing populist RN party leader Jordan Bardella following a meeting between Macron and top representatives of all parties at the Elysée on Thursday. Macron had isolated himself internationally with his stance and was playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin by exposing inner-European conflicts, said Bardella.

In his recent speech to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if NATO states were to send troops to Ukraine to fight against Russia, the consequences of such a move could be "far more tragic" than in previous conflicts.(Bild: AFP)

Socialists: "Ukrainians have never asked us for ground troops"
"The Ukrainians have never asked us for ground troops", explained Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure. "Instead of playing to the gallery with provocations, the president should rather keep the promises he made to Ukraine, especially with regard to ammunition and artillery," he added. 

Greens: "This is irresponsible"
Green Party leader Marie Tondelier described it as "worrying" that Macron spoke of "unlimited support" with regard to Russia, when both countries have nuclear weapons. "These are not issues that should be treated lightly, it is irresponsible," she said. 

Macron: "Don't be a coward"
Macron had declared in Prague on Tuesday that the moment would soon come when it would be necessary to "not be cowards". German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) reacted irritably and pointed out that there were "more urgent problems" to solve, such as the production of ammunition.

For the Russian government, the current debate fits in perfectly with its propaganda, as it is known to paint the picture of a war against NATO. "Mr. Macron is convinced of his policy, which consists of wanting to inflict a strategic defeat on our country," said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a video posted on the Telegram online service on Thursday.