Russia “is not a great power”: Emmanuel Macron plans to “counter Russian forces” in Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine. MAXPPP – IMAGO/Uwe Koch

This Friday March 15, Emmanuel Macron was alongside Donald Tusk and Olaf Scholz for the Berlin summit. On the return plane, he confided in our colleagues at Le Parisien.

"Do not exclude anything". This is the message hammered home by Emmanuel Macron since his controversial statements in recent weeks on the sending of French or European troops to Ukrainian soil.

This is also the idea that he repeated to our colleagues from Parisian on his return from the Berlin summit. "Maybe at some point — I do not want it, will not take the initiative —, we will have to have operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter the Russian forces, he indicated. The strength of France is that we can do it." 

"Preparing for all scenarios"

"Our duty is to prepare for all scenarios, continued the head of the' State. It would be a mistake, a fault, not to do so. I am also convinced that in some of these scenarios, everyone, who can with their model, would take their responsibilities." 

While Russians are called to elect their President, Emmanuel Macron believes that Vladimir Putin "maintains a discourse of fear". 

"We must not let ourselves be intimidated, we do not have a great power facing us, assures us French President. Russia is a middle power with nuclear weapons, but whose GDP is much lower than that of Europeans, lower than that of Germany , from France."