Yesterday at 23:03
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Donald Trump’s statement that Ukraine is “gambling with World War III,” arguing that such accusations would be more appropriate for the Kremlin leader.
Macron made this remark in an interview with Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
Macron responded to Trump’s words, which were spoken during a public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, though he did not mention Trump by name.
“There is an important point that must not be forgotten. If anyone is ‘playing with World War III,’ that person is Vladimir Putin. He launched a war of conquest three years ago,” the French president stated.
“It is because of him that 10,000 North Korean soldiers have arrived on European soil. It is he who went to ask for Iranian drones, in exchange for assisting their nuclear program, in order to wage war in Europe,” Macron emphasized.
He also pointed to deepening cooperation between Russia and China, from which Russia receives many dual-use goods, as well as Moscow’s periodic nuclear rhetoric.
“So if there is someone playing with World War III, that person should not be sought in Kyiv but rather in Moscow,” Macron concluded.
Earlier, during the February 28 dispute in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III.”
Other statements by the French President:
- If Putin is not stopped, he will go further – Moldova will be next, then, perhaps, Romania.
- I want the Americans to understand that distancing themselves from Ukraine is not in their interests.
- Depriving Ukraine of security guarantees would weaken the deterrence of Russia, China and others.
- The security of Europe is at stake.
- Russia is on our borders, armed and aggressive. It is committing terrorist acts, massive disinformation campaigns here in Europe.
- Putin brought 10 thousand North Korean soldiers to Europe. He solicited Iranian drones to help their nuclear program in order to start a war in Europe.
Read also: Scholz discusses Ukraine situation with Merz after Zelenskyy-Trump talks
