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- Photo released by President Macron’s official photographer, Sajigu de la Moissonnière
French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a gruesome black-and-white boxing photo in a bid to establish himself as Europe’s strongman against President Vladimir Putin.
The photo, released by President Macron’s official photographer Sajigues de la Moissonnière, shows the French leader flexing his muscles as he hits a punching bag in a boxing gym yesterday.
With a grimace on his face, President Macron aimed to show off his fighting spirit and determination after military experts said he aimed to lead NATO as “Napoleon.”
Mr Macron’s depiction of disgusting strength in his boxing photos resembles similar attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s office has previously published photos of Macron defeating opponents in judo, playing ice hockey and riding a horse shirtless.
The photo was released amid repeated warnings from President Macron, who said he would send Western ground forces to Ukraine. should not be “excluded” and urged European leaders not to be “cowards” in defending Ukraine.
His comments on ground forces – break from others NATO countries – sparked alarm among Western supporters of Ukraine who have long considered sending troops to the country, which is currently besieged by Ukraine. Russia As a red line that should not be crossed.
Macron’s provocative call to shore up support for Kiev instead ends up driving a wedge between the EU’s two largest powers, France and Germany, with Berlin not sending troops to Ukraine. He immediately declared.
Other major countries in the European sphere of influence, including NATO members Britain and Poland, also quickly rejected Macron’s proposal.
Some people welcomed The “strategic ambiguity” of his statements – the importance of never announcing one’s intentions to an adversary.
But Macron’s comments also drew a sharp rebuke from Vladimir Putin, who quickly threatened to do so. ‘Weapons exist to be used”, he said in an interview with Russian state television, referring to the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons if Western forces were to deploy to Ukraine.
In an interview with French media last week, Macron accused Putin of threatening to use nuclear weapons and reminded him that France also has advanced weapons programs.
He also declared his country “ready” to use nuclear weapons, in an unusually cheeky rebuttal to President Vladimir Putin following the Kremlin chief’s recent nuclear saber flurry.
“We are a nuclear-armed state, so first and foremost we must feel protected. We are ready; we have a doctrine (of the use of nuclear weapons),” Macron said. told reporters that the Kremlin’s willingness to issue nuclear threats was inappropriate.
President Macron took a hard look at Russian officials and members of the media’s continued warnings about the possession of nuclear weapons, saying that possessing nuclear weapons “places on us a responsibility to never escalate.” Stated.
In some of his latest comments on the war, President Macron last week again ruled out sending in troops, saying that if Russia wins in Ukraine, “Europe’s credibility will be zero.”
The French leader spoke on French television about how to further support Ukraine and in an interview. Deploying ground troops is not currently on the agenda, but the aim was to underline the policy that Europe needs to keep “all options” open in case war escalates.
He said France had no intention of leading an attack on Ukraine, and that Russia was to blame for prompting such a move. “It won’t be us,” he said, but then added: “To bring peace to Ukraine, we must not be weak.”
“If Russia wins this war, there will be zero trust in Europe,” President Macron told French broadcasters TF1 and France 2 television.
He also said the continent’s security was “at stake” in the conflict, which he said was “something that will last for our Europe and for France.”
Macron later added in a video on social media that Moldova, Romania and Poland could be under immediate threat if Ukraine loses the war.
President Macron said the Ukraine conflict was “survival for our Europe and for France” and said those who advocate “restrictions” on aid to Ukraine were “choosing defeat”.
“There are too many limits to our vocabulary” since the February 2022 invasion of Russia, he said, adding: “Two years ago we said we would never send tanks.” Ta. It was. Two years ago, we said we would never send intermediate-range missiles. We did that,” he said.
“Those who say “I don’t support Ukraine” are not choosing peace, they are choosing defeat,” Macron added.
His comments came as Paris’ stance toward Russia hardened after Mr. Macron abandoned years of efforts to maintain close ties with Mr. Putin.
Britain and France are the only nuclear powers in Europe.Even their combined power is only a fraction of the power employed by Russia, which has the world’s largest and most diverse collection. nuclear weapons Even bigger than Washington’s vast stockpile.
President Macron cited Russia’s “hardening” at home and abroad, including the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a series of riots that his supporters blame on the Kremlin. He openly admits that his position has changed significantly. Cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns against countries including France.
He has repeatedly said that “Russia cannot win this war,” and in February he shocked allies in Europe by refusing to exclude Western ground troops from being dispatched.
“Who would have thought for a moment that President Putin, who has no respect for his limits or commitments, would stop there?” In an interview on French television on Thursday, he insisted there should be “no limits” to aid to Ukraine. , said the war was “existential” for Ukraine and Europe.
Macron met for talks in Berlin last Friday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who have both expressed displeasure with France’s more bellicose stance.
“If Russia wins, the lives of French people will change. There will no longer be security in Europe,” Macron warned.
This comes ahead of a European summit in Brussels tomorrow where representatives from 27 countries are expected to discuss the Ukraine war.
“As Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine enters its third year, we face a pivotal moment. Urgency, intensity and unwavering determination are essential,” EU Council President Charles Michel said in Brussels. in a letter inviting presidents and prime ministers to the two-day summit.
“Prompt provision of military aid to Ukraine” is a top priority,” Michel wrote. The other is to strengthen the defense of Europe.
“As we face the greatest security threat since World War II, we need fundamental and concrete steps to improve our defense posture and put the EU economy on a ‘war posture’,” he said. The time has come to take action.”
It is unlikely that the leaders of all 27 countries would accept a transition to a war economy that might help produce the necessary weapons and ammunition. For example, Hungary, Russia’s closest ally in the EU, has sued for peace and has refused to provide arms to Ukraine.
Still, the realization that Putin’s Russia poses an existential threat if Ukraine collapses animates much of Europe.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday: “If the Russian president thinks that our support will weaken if we just stay out of this war, he has miscalculated.”
“Russia is not strong, so we cannot presume that we will stop our support. We will continue as long as necessary.”
There is growing support among some leaders for a national defense bond to finance military spending through the issuance of common bonds. It’s the same way the EU raised money for its pandemic recovery fund.
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