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Russian officials and parliamentarians have sharply criticised French President Emmanuel Macron after he said that Russia poses a threat to Europe. Moscow accused Paris of “dangerous rhetoric” that, in the Kremlin’s view, could lead to a global conflict. This was reported by Reuters.
Macron has repeatedly stressed that European countries should be prepared for possible scenarios of Russian aggression. He also suggested that NATO should increase military support for Ukraine to stop the advance of Russian troops. In response, Russian authorities said that such statements were “manic”, and Dmitry Medvedev even called Macron “Micron”, alluding to his “political pettiness”.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, sarcastically commented on the French leader’s words about “the most effective army in Europe”. She hinted that Macron should “prove his words in deed”, which was perceived as another provocative statement by Moscow.
At the same time, the Russian authorities continue to increase the size of the army. Last year, Vladimir Putin decided to expand the armed forces to 1.5 million troops. The Kremlin claims that it has no plans to attack NATO countries, but Moscow insists that the war in Ukraine is a response to “Western aggression”.
Against the backdrop of these diplomatic tensions, new fears have emerged about the future of European security. France and the United Kingdom are calling for tougher sanctions against Russia and increased military assistance to Kyiv. The Kremlin, in turn, continues to speak of a “historic struggle” with the West, accusing it of trying to “undermine Russia’s stability”.
The situation remains tense, and the latest statements only confirm that the confrontation between Moscow and the West is entering an even more dangerous phase.
