A few hours after Russia entered the war against Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron spoke Thursday around 1:30 p.m. during a solemn address. He denounced “an act of war” launched by Vladimir Putin. “The sanctions imposed on Russia will be commensurate with the aggression of which it is guilty. On the military and economic level, as much as in the field of energy”, the Head of State warned that “we will respond without weakening”. This “act of war” will have “deep, lasting consequences on our lives”, said Emmanuel Macron.
“France stands alongside Ukraine”, whose sovereignty Putin “has decided to flout”. “We will support Ukraine without hesitation and we will take all our responsibilities to protect the sovereignty and security of our European allies,” he insisted.
“We will hold Russia to account”
“Their freedom is ours,” said the president again, alongside a French flag, a European flag and a Ukrainian flag.
Decisions will be taken later during the G7 this Thursday afternoon, the European Council this evening in Brussels, and the NATO summit. “We will hold Russia accountable to the United Nations Security Council,” Macron warned.
“France strongly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war on Ukraine,” Emmanuel Macron reacted early Thursday morning, calling on Moscow to “immediately end its military operations”.
“France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands alongside the Ukrainians and works with its partners and allies to end the war,” added the head of state in two tweets.
A defense council organized this morning at the Elysée
Emmanuel Macron organized a defense council at the Elysée in the morning. Prime Minister Jean Castex, who participated, canceled a planned trip to Angers (Maine-et-Loire) around the deconcentration of public services.
Previously, explains the presidential palace, Emmanuel Macron had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he had “on his cell phone”, and who “asked for multiple interventions to support Ukraine” and to “unite in Europeans”. Emmanuel Macron “assured him of all the support and solidarity of France”.
The French President also spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Zelensky and with the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
“I have taken the decision of a military operation”, announces Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday a military operation in Ukraine to defend the separatists in the east of the country.
“I have made the decision for a military operation,” he said, sitting at a dark wooden desk, in a surprise statement on television shortly before 4 a.m. “We will strive to achieve demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” said the Kremlin master, promising to bring “to court those who have committed numerous crimes, responsible for the bloodshed of civilians, especially Russian citizens.
“We do not have in our plans an occupation of Ukrainian territories, we do not intend to impose anything by force on anyone”, he however affirmed, calling on the Ukrainian soldiers “to lay down their arms”.
A summit of EU leaders tonight
Emmanuel Macron is due to take part in a G7 videoconference in the afternoon before heading to Brussels for an EU leaders’ summit at 8 p.m.
The 27 have already warned that “massive” sanctions against Moscow would be taken in the event of an attack on Ukraine.
The ambassadors of the 30 member countries of NATO will also meet urgently Thursday morning in Brussels.
The failure of the diplomatic solution
This worsening of the crisis comes after weeks of mobilization by Emmanuel Macron to attempt a diplomatic solution, in particular with a visit to Moscow, where he met for more than five hours with Vladimir Putin, and to Kiev.
While France chairs the EU Council in the first half of the year, the Head of State has also multiplied exchanges with other European leaders, such as the German Olaf Scholz, and Western leaders such as the American Joe Biden.
His entourage highlighted the diplomatic crisis to justify the postponement of his entry into the campaign for the presidential election of April 10 and 24, which is expected next week.