President warns it would be ‘madness’ to ignore Russian threat to Europe
France's president Emmanuel Macron addressing a live interview on French TV at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris. Photograph: Getty ImagesIn his televised speech, Mr Macron also said France would have to spend more on defence and would continue to help“You are, I know, legitimately worried about the current events, which are disrupting the world order,” Mr Macron told voters.
‘We’ll rest when we win’: No let-up for Ukraine’s medics and rescue teams as war with Russia grinds on Trump-Starmer summit: British PM produces masterstroke of political theatre as he seeks to cement bromance “Russia has become a threat for France and Europe,” he said, adding that “to watch and do nothing would be madness”.Stressing that France was uniquely placed in Europe thanks to its nuclear deterrent capability, Mr Macron said he was open to discussing extending that protection to European allies. He added that the ultimate decision on nuclear weapons would remain in the hands of the French president. The French nuclear deterrent is air- and sea-based, with Rafale fighter jets and nuclear submarines being able to strike at any time, on the instruction of the French president alone. In the early days of the cold war, former president Charles de Gaulle developed a nuclear deterrent that was designed to be fully independent from the two dominant powers of the time, the Soviet Union and the US. In his televised address on the eve of a crucial European Union summit on defence, Mr Macron said France would spend more on defence – though he did not say how much more. He said there would be no tax increases to finance that, but tough choices would have to be made. He said that he wanted to believe that the United States “will remain at our side”, while adding that Europe had to be ready if that was no longer the case. Mr Macron’s address comes amid a flurry of European diplomacy to shore up support for Ukraine and try and mend ties between Washington and Kyiv after an France and Britain are aiming to finalise with Ukraine, possibly “in days”, a peace plan to present to the United States, while building bridges between the US and Ukraine before possible talks in Washington, diplomats have told Reuters. Mr Macron’s push to beef up French defence spending won’t be easy as his government struggles to tame an unruly budget deficit. – ReutersUS cuts off intelligence sharing with UkraineFamous Dublin city centre pub hits the market at €4.25m Trump says ‘golden age of America has only just begun’ in speech riddled with exaggerations and inaccuraciesWhite House confirms ‘ongoing talks’ with Hamas officials in QatarTaoiseach and UK prime minister to discuss potential Ukraine peace deal at Liverpool summit
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