We do not want a World War, says Emanuel Macron on Ukraine’s NATO membership bid
Vinayak Barot
New Delhi: The President of France has expressed concern over the worsening situation in Ukraine and the impact of disputes between Russia-Ukraine on other countries, especially the European countries.
On the Russian threat over Ukraine’s NATO membership bid, The President of France, Emanuel Macron tweeted, “We do not want a World War. We are helping Ukraine to resist on its soil, never to attack Russia. Vladimir Putin must stop this war and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity,”
Caesar howitzers to conduct the counter-offensive, radars, systems and missiles to protect from air attacks, armoured vehicles and training: we are going to continue to support the Ukrainian resistance and boost our military assistance. pic.twitter.com/VWwQ6iu5Jt
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 13, 2022
The Paris government has supplied military and financial aid to Ukraine.
Macron also told the media that he would not sanction nuclear strikes even if Moscow were to unleash such weapons in Ukraine. “Our doctrine wouldn’t be affected if… there was a ballistic nuclear attack in Ukraine,” he said.
The French president’s comment came hours after Iranian-made drones struck Ukraine’s capital region and dozens of cities across the war-torn country. The strikes were followed by NATO allies pledging to help Ukraine’s air defenses.
“Howitzers to conduct counter-offensives, radars, systems and missiles to protect from air attacks, armored vehicles and training, continue to support Ukrainian resistance and boost our military assistance,” Macron said.
However, Alexander Venediktov, deputy secretary of Russia’s security council, told the media that Ukraine’s bid to fast-track its NATO membership constitutes a guaranteed escalation to World War III. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month bid to speed up the process.
On the other side, NATO is not expected to allow Ukraine to join quickly, not least because its membership during an ongoing war would put it into conflict with Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly justified the invasion – which began February 24 and has killed tens of thousands of people – as a ‘special operation’ triggered because Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO poses a ‘threat’ to Russia’s security.
