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Lavrov calls Macron's statements threat against Russia

06 March 2025 15:53 (UTC +04:00)

Russia ruled out European proposals to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine and said on Thursday that French President Emmanuel Macron had threatened it by suggesting that Moscow was a grave menace to Europe, APA reports citing Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday he plans next week to hold a meeting of army chiefs from European countries willing to send troops to Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia.

He also said France needs to be ready if the United States is no longer by its side.

President Donald Trump has upended U.S. policy towards Ukraine and Russia and demanded a deal to end the war, berating Ukraine while discussing a renewal of ties with Moscow.

Macron said Russia was "a threat for France and Europe", that the Ukraine war was already a "global conflict" and that he would open a debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to allies in Europe.

The Kremlin said the speech was extremely confrontational and that it was clear Macron wanted the war in Ukraine to continue while President Vladimir Putin's foreign minister said the speech amounted to a threat against Russia.

"This is, of course, a threat" against Russia, Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.