Macron's nuclear rhetoric triggers backlash from Moscow
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded on Thursday to the remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron. Lavrov stated that it is not Moscow that threatens Europe, but rather Macron's nuclear rhetoric "is a threat to Russia." He also mentioned the issue of deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
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In a televised address on Wednesday, a day before the extraordinary EU summit, Emmanuel Macron spoke about, among other things, Russia becoming a "threat to France and Europe" and that it "has already turned the Ukrainian conflict into a global conflict" by involving soldiers from North Korea and equipment from Iran.
He added that Russia violates the borders of European countries, engages in cyberattacks and tries to manipulate opinions through disinformation on social media. - This aggressiveness seems to know no bounds - he said.
At the same time, the French president assured that France has the most effective army in Europe and that nuclear deterrence makes it better protected than some neighbours. - Responding to the historic appeal of the future German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz], I decided to open the strategic debate on the protection by our [nuclear] deterrence of our allies of the European continent - he said.
Lavrov: This is, of course, a threat
In response to Macron's warnings of a threat to Europe from Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted on Thursday. He stated - as quoted by Sky News - that "Macron's nuclear rhetoric was a threat to Russia."
- If he considers us a threat, convenes a meeting of the chiefs of general staff of European countries and Britain, says it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, prepares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is, of course, a threat - Lavrov argued.
The Russian minister also spoke about the issue of sending a European peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine once the warring parties reach an agreement on a ceasefire. He noted that the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine would be perceived by Moscow as an official engagement of NATO forces in the conflict with Russia.
He also emphasized that Russia does not allow "any compromises" on this matter.
