Russia on Thursday issued a stern warning to French President, Emmanuel Macron over his nuclear rhetoric, dismissing European proposals to send NATO peacekeeping forces to Ukraine and ridiculing his height by calling him ‘Micron.’
Macron had in a national address on Wednesday, described Russia as a threat to Europe and suggested that Paris could discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to its allies.
He also announced plans to convene a meeting of European military chiefs from countries willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after a peace deal.
Reacting to Macron’s statement, Russia labeled the speech as highly confrontational. “This (speech) is, of course, a threat against Russia,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated.
He went on to compare Macron unfavourably to historical leaders who had waged war against Russia, saying, “Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler, Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: ‘We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia’.”
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According to Reuters, the escalating rhetoric comes as tensions between Russia and the West reach levels unseen since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. With both Russia and the United States possessing over 5,000 nuclear warheads each, and France holding 290, concerns over the potential for global conflict remain high.
Russian officials accused Macron of pushing the world closer to catastrophe. The French leader was depicted in Russian cartoons as Napoleon Bonaparte marching toward defeat in Russia, a reference to the failed 1812 invasion.
Former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, mocked Macron’s political future, stating, “Micron himself poses no big threat though. He’ll disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he won’t be missed.”
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