Russia and France’s war of words escalates

Tensions between Moscow and Paris escalated this week, with French President Emmanuel Macron referring to Russia as his country’s “adversary.”

Speaking with French networks TF1 and France 2 channels on Thursday, Macron addressed his recent remarks regarding the possibility of sending Western troops into Ukraine to help resist Russia’s invasion. The French leader raised questions after he suggested late last month that “nothing should be excluded” when it comes to bolstering Kyiv’s defenses, although he later walked back his statements, saying that there was “no consensus at this stage” about deploying troops.

“We will never lead an offensive, we will never take the initiative,” Macron said Thursday. “France is a force for peace. Simply, today, to achieve peace in Ukraine, we must not be weak.”

Macron said later in the interview that he viewed Russia as an “adversary,” but not an “enemy” of France, adding, “We are not waging war on Russia and the Russian people and we support Ukraine.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to the comments on Friday, telling reporters that it was “obvious that Russia is an adversary of France because France is already involved in the war in Ukraine; it is indirectly taking part in this war.”

“But, judging by the [French] president’s statement, he won’t mind increasing the degree of his involvement [in the conflict],” Peskov added.

Newsweek reached out to France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry via email for comment on Friday.

Macron added during his interview on Thursday that the Crimean Peninsula must be turned back over to Ukraine’s control if there is to be “lasting peace” in the region between Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made similar statements, saying that the war cannot come to an end until Russia relinquishes control of all occupied territory.

“We are doing everything so that it can put Russia in check because I will tell you very simply that there is no lasting peace if there is not sovereignty, a return to internationally recognized borders of Ukraine and including Crimea,” Macron said.

Moscow officials previously condemned Macron’s suggestion that Western soldiers could be sent into combat in Ukraine. Peskov said last week that the comments showed France’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“From our point of view, this in no way corresponds to the interests of the French,” he added, according to Russian media reports.

Several of Ukraine’s Western allies, including the United States, have said that there are no plans to send troops to the front lines. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, however, has said that it is not “unthinkable” to make such a move. Similar comments have also been made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech President Petr Pavel.