President Macron speaks at the Globsec Regional Security Forum in Bratislava, Slovakia. countries, he should heed their calls to take Russia's threat to Ukraine more seriously, saying: «We have lost the opportunity to listen to you.»
The French president was criticized for trying to talk to Vladimir Putin from the invasion of Ukraine, while while ignoring warnings from Eastern Europe and the UK about impending Russian aggression.
“Some said you missed the opportunity to shut up. I think we also lost the opportunity to listen to you. That time is over,” Macron said to applause during a speech at the security think tank Globsec in Bratislava, the Slovak capital.
He was referring to a remark made in 2003 by then-French President Jacques Chirac: who said that Eastern European countries that supported the US and UK decision to invade Iraq, opposed by France and Germany, among others, missed «a good opportunity to shut up.»
This remark chilled relations between Eastern European countries, which happened again after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“I don't think there is Western and Eastern Europe, old Europe and old Europe. new; there is only one Europe… with the will to unite,” he said.
Mr. Macron insisted that Russia had lost all legitimacy and that Ukraine would not be conquered.
“A geopolitical failure.” '
«We see that what was supposed to be a 'special operation' is already a geopolitical failure,» he said.
However, he added that if Ukraine's upcoming counter-offensive does not reach her military goals and «I think that while the war will continue, we will have to reassess the situation to see how to calibrate our support.»
At the same time, he insisted that Ukraine is not only defending its borders, but also «defending Europe», and any ceasefire would play into the hands of Russia. “In this case, time will be on Russia’s side,” he warned.
“We must clearly understand: a ceasefire is not enough, we will recreate a frozen conflict that will become another war tomorrow,” he said.< /p>
“We need to help Ukraine conduct an effective counteroffensive.
The French president said the West should offer Ukraine «tangible and credible» security guarantees, stressing that it is in the West's interests for Kiev to receive security guarantees from NATO.
» That's why I'm in favor, and this will be the subject collective bargaining in the coming weeks… to offer Ukraine real and credible security guarantees,” he added.
His comments are likely to be seen as a nod to many Eastern Europeans who believe Ukraine's allies should send a positive signal about its NATO membership bid.
Full membership for Ukraine
Though Mr Macron said, that a consensus is unlikely to be reached. On Ukraine's full membership, he said: «We have to create something between Israeli-style security guarantees and full membership.»
Mr Putin's belligerence shook the alliance when he invaded Ukraine last year,” he added.
“In December 2019, I spoke sharply against NATO,” Macron said, recalling that at the time he called the alliance “brain dead.” “I can say that today Vladimir Putin woke her up with the strongest electric shocks,” he added.
Mr. Macron also said that while America’s contribution to Ukraine’s defense is critical, Europe must build up its own defense. industry, and not just rely on US protection.
“Let's be thankful and say thank you to the United States. But this administration is here forever?” Mr Macron asked. «That's why NATO's European defense pillar is needed.»
The U.S. presidential election is next year, and Donald Trump, who as president said that European countries should pay more for their own defense, is a serious a rival.< /p>
“Defense Europe, NATO's European pillar, is essential. This is the only way to earn trust… in the long run,” he said, adding that “we Europeans must in the future have our own ability to defend ourselves.”
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