FRANCE could use its nukes to protect Europe against Russia, president Emmanuel Macron said in a defiant defence speech.
The French leader demanded Europe’s future should not “be decided in Moscow or in Washington” – and said the bloc must shoulder responsibility itself.
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Macron delivered a steely speech that warned of a “new era” amid the ongoing turmoil of global politics.
He boldly announced that France could gear up its nuclear deterrent to protect the continent under a defensive umbrella against Russian aggression.
France is the only EU nation with nuclear capability.
But he also made clear that decision would remain solely in the hands of the French president – himself.
Confidence that the US would protect Nato and EU countries if they were attacked is faltering, after America repeatedly undermined the western alliance.
Since taking office Trump has dramatically has veered in favour of Putin’s Russia, withdrawn US military aid for Ukraine, and now stopped sharing intelligence with the invaded nation.
European countries have been scrambling to chip away their reliance on the US, with Keir Starmer announcing a hike to defence spending in the UK.
Macron said he “wants to believe that the US will stand by our side”, but urged Europe to be prepared for that assurance to dissolve.
He said that regardless of what happens in Ukraine, Russia must be recognised as a permanent threat – and Europe must act now to “defend” against and “deter” possible future attacks.
And that means “more arms and more equipment”.
Macron’s nuclear announcement comes in response to a call from German election winner Friedrich Merz, who recently pushed for a discussion on nuclear sharing with France.
The German said last Friday that Paris and London should discuss “whether their nuclear protection could also be extended to us”.
He revealed that he is gathering all European army chiefs together next week in Paris to forge a plan to “guarantee future peace in Ukraine”.
And EU leaders are meeting at a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to optimise defence strategies in their respective nations to bring peace in Ukraine.
In his speech, Macron said: “Europe’s future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow.”
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He urged it would be “foolish to remain a spectator in this world of danger”, pointing out that Russia has already turned the war in Ukraine into a “global conflict”.
Russia is now spending 40 per cent of its budget on its military, the president pointed out, with plans to expand its army with 300,000 extra soldiers, 3,000 tanks and 300 jet fighters by 2030.
He asked: “Who can believe that today’s Russia will stop at Ukraine?”
Macron said that peace in Ukraine is vital for the longer-term defence of Europe against Russia – which could mean “sending European troops”.
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He added: “They won’t go to fight today, they won’t go to fight on the front line, but they would be there once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected.”
Allies must then ensure Russia does not strike again in Ukraine after any peace deal is signed, he said.
This means that any peace deal must be bolstered by a commitment to long-term protection of Ukraine.
Macron summarised the new, uncertain reality: “Our generation will no longer receive the dividends of peace.
“It is up to us to ensure that our children reap the rewards of our commitments tomorrow. So we will face the future together.”
Time to rearm
The Sun Says…
THREE years on from the start of Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and the war has seen more than 1.3million killed or injured.
Brave Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer to step down as Ukrainian president — in answer to Donald Trump’s bogus charge that he is a dictator — shows his commitment to peace.
But he is not the problem.
Blood-soaked Putin has already sacrificed more than 860,000 of his own soldiers and is no more bothered by current losses of 1,500 a day than he is by the deaths of 12,000 Ukrainian civilians ruthlessly targeted by his forces.
He is supported in this slaughter by the terrorists of Tehran and North Korean madman Kim Jong-un.
Meanwhile, China watches on.
The world is a very dangerous place right now and Europe cannot keep relying on America to fight its battles.
Even pacifists like Stephen Fry recognise that increasing spending on defence is not about ideology. It’s about self-preservation.
Sir Keir Starmer hinted that Britain will raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 and offer 30,000 peace-keeping troops for Ukraine.
But that is meaningless when we don’t have 30,000 troops to spare, when 2.5 per cent is not enough and 2030 is too far away.
What are we waiting for?
