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France’s Macron says he wants Russia defeated, not crushed

French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview released Saturday that he wanted Russia to be defeated in its war with Ukraine, but not "crushed".

Published: 19 February 2023 09:29 CET
French President Emmanuel Macron makes a statement at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich
French President Emmanuel Macron makes a statement at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany, on February 17, 2023. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

He was speaking after returning from the Munich Security Conference, where he urged allies to intensify their support for Ukraine, and said France was prepared for a drawn-out conflict.

READ ALSO: European allies vow more support for Kyiv at security meet

“I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position,” he told French newspapers JDD and Le Figaro and broadcaster France Inter.

“I am convinced that, in the end, this will not conclude militarily,” he added, predicting that neither said could fully prevail in the conflict.

But he did not, like some, want the fight to be taken on to Russian soil.

Such people, he said, “want above all to crush Russia.

“This has never been the position of France and it never will be.”

READ ALSO: Western allies voice concern at Iran-Russia defence ties

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POLITICS

France to finance Ukraine aid with Russian assets

France will use a share of €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) in revenues from frozen Russian assets to finance purchase of military equipment for Ukraine, the defence ministry said Friday.

Published: 7 September 2024 15:01 CEST
France to finance Ukraine aid with Russian assets

“Alongside other (EU) member states, the ministry… will take part in implementing the new support measure for Ukraine from the European Peace Facility,” it said in a statement.

The European Commission in Brussels had given the go-ahead for “swift procurement of priority material from French industry” including ammunition, artillery and air defences, the ministry added.

READ ALSO: France seizes €4.5m coastal villa linked to Vladimir Putin

Around €200 billion of Russian assets have been frozen across the 27-nation European Union since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour Ukraine in 2022.

Around 90 percent of them are held in Belgium, where international clearinghouse and securities depository Euroclear is headquartered.

EU member states agreed in May to use the interest generated by seized assets belonging to the Russian central bank to support Kyiv.

A first tranche of €1.5 billion was green-lighted in July.

The interest revenue is expected to amount to between €2.5 and €3 billion per year to arm Ukraine and cover the costs of post-war reconstruction.

Russia has denounced the EU decision as “illegal”.

At a June meeting, G7 leaders reached a “political agreement” on a similar arrangement at a meeting in Italy.

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