Ukraine-Russia war latest: Macron says Putin is threatening UK and Europe because he ‘feels exposed’
French president Emmanuel Macron has said that the Kremlin is issuing threats to the UK and Europe because Vladimir Putin is feeling “exposed”.
The Kremlin has responded angrily after Mr Macron made a national address extending France’s nuclear capabilities to his European allies. “I know president Putin well. If he’s reacting like that, it’s because he knows what I said is true,” Mr Macron told reporters at an EU summit in Brussels yesterday.
“He was probably piqued by the fact we’re exposing his game,” Mr Macron said, adding that the reactions from Moscow were probably so vociferous because Russia’s intentions to continue waging war with Europe had been uncovered.
Earlier, a Russian senator and former deputy prime minister said the bodies of British officers would “fertilise Crimean vineyards” if the UK contributes to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Despite those remarks, Russia’s ambassador to the UK denied Moscow was threatening Britain. Andrei Kelin told Sky News: “Russia does not threaten France or the United Kingdom. Here in the United Kingdom, they are very good at inventing threats.”
And Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss ending the war with Russia.
