Between a particularly bellicose speech by Vladimir Putin on Russian television and speeches on the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly, the conflict in Ukraine experienced a singular acceleration on Wednesday. On the plane that brought him back from New York and the UN summit a few hours later, Emmanuel Macron gave an exclusive interview to our journalist Ulysse Gosset.
Before the microphone of BFMTV, the Head of State condemned the Russian “escalation” on the Ukrainian front, and recalled the French “line” on the matter.
Macron condemns Putin’s nuclear “blackmail”
While Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” of the Russian population, and therefore the enlistment of 300,000 reservists, and loudly raised the use of atomic weapons in case the “vital interests” of his country were threatened, Emmanuel Macron held in the preamble to condemn the autocrat’s statements. “Russia has decided to take a step in the escalation,” lamented the president.
Trying both to take his Russian counterpart’s speech seriously and not to take him at his word, Emmanuel Macron lashed out at Vladimir Putin’s expressed desire to use “all weapons” – including nuclear weapons – in his troops’ arsenal if necessary.
“Obviously it’s blackmail and obviously he has these weapons and the risk is still there. But he is also a means of pressure ”, clarified Emmanuel Macron.
Military, economic and diplomatic difficulties
The Head of State explained the hardening of the tone adopted by the Kremlin due to Russia’s military difficulties at the front, as well as due to its economic and diplomatic difficulties.
“There is a counteroffensive from the south and the north that has destabilized the Russian front, that is the first element. Obviously, the Russian economic situation is evidently more complex than what has been said, a more convertible ruble, collapsed value chains as companies leave the territory, and partners do not help as much as expected. And third, Russia is diplomatically isolating itself,” said Emmanuel Macron.
For Macron, “it will only end around a table”
The Head of State then set the French “line” in this tense context: “We are not at war with Russia, but we must help Ukraine and convince other countries to follow us to increase pressure on Russia.”
Because for the President of the Republic, the way out of the crisis is an invitation to take the path of multilateral dialogue: “Russia is under pressure but we must put ourselves in a position to restore dialogue, we are not in a dead end. (…) It will only end up around a table! We cannot give in to a fugitive.”
Source: BFM TV
