Presidential candidates and political party leaders have unanimously expressed their condemnation of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Consternation, anger and concern. This Thursday morning, French politicians unanimously condemn the“special military operation” of Russia in Ukraine, announced overnight by Vladimir Putin who claims to act for “demilitarization and denazification” of the Eastern European country.
On Twitter, Emmanuel Macron assures us that the country is “solidarity» from Ukraine and “acts with its partners and allies to end the war”. “France strongly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must immediately end its military operations., writes the President of the Republic, who spoke in the morning with the Ukrainian Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky. A defense council is meeting this morning to decide on the French reaction.
“Terrible setback in history”
Before Emmanuel Macron, Jean-Luc Mélenchon had been the first to react, in a press release published shortly after 7:30 a.m. The candidate of La France insoumise in the presidential election unreservedly denounces Moscow’s offensive. He calls her a“initiative of pure violence manifesting a will to power without measure”. “Russia takes responsibility for a terrible setback in history”accuses the MP for Bouches-du-Rhône, whose position with regard to Moscow is considered ambiguous by his detractors – he denies this and poses as a supporter of a “non-alignment” diplomatic. “For the European Union, the time for mutual protection has come”says today Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is calling for an emergency meeting at the UN: “We must above all not agree to enter the escalation”he warns.
On the environmental side, Yannick Jadot sentenced “with the greatest force” the actions of Moscow and evokes “an unprecedented aggression since the Second World War against a European country”. MEP calls for delivering weapons to Kyiv “immediately”. He also wishes “sanctions of exceptional magnitude” against Russia, which he calls on “ban from the international community”.
“Reaction of great firmness”
The other left-wing candidates are on the same line as Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot. “I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal attack ordered by Vladimir Putin. […] We must react firmly to this unjustified and criminal act.”, says socialist Anne Hidalgowhen her competitor Christiane Taubira expressed her “solidarity” with the Ukrainian people and notice : “It is no longer an aggression, an attack, a violation of borders, it is war.” Russia “has chosen to violate international law”also notes Fabien Roussel, guest this morning on the show the 4 truths on France 2.
Same story on the right, where Valerie Pécresse “condemns in the strongest terms the war started by Russia in Ukraine” and demands an answer “vigorous, coordinated and severe” from Paris and Brussels. “The new balance requires a reaction of great firmness and unity in the face of aggression”, aboundsBruno Retailleau, the president of the group Les Républicains in the Senate.
The far right is in tune, although its representatives have multiplied statements favorable to Russia in recent weeks. In a brief statement sent to AFP, Eric Zemmour “unreservedly condemns the Russian military intervention which began last night”. As recently as Sunday, the far-right candidate said to himself “skeptical” on the hypothesis of an invasion of Ukraine and confided that he did not believe it.
“No reason can justify the launching of a military operation against Ukraine by Russia which upsets the balance of peace in Europe. She must unequivocally be condemned.protests for her part Marine Le Pen, when Nicolas Dupont-Aignan denounces a “unacceptable aggression”.
Update : at 10:20 a.m., with the addition of statements by Le Pen and Dupont-Aignan.