PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that efforts to restrict assistance to Ukraine or pressure Kyiv into accepting an unjust peace agreement would undermine European security and potentially pave the way for another war.
In a statement published on his official social media account on X, Macron stressed that the conflict in Ukraine was not merely a regional issue but one directly affecting the security of France and the entire European continent.
“What is happening in Ukraine directly concerns us. It is about the security of all of us. By helping Ukraine defend itself, we are protecting France and the French people,” Macron stated.
He cautioned that allowing Russia to impose its will on a European country through military force would weaken the security of the entire continent.
The French president also criticised proposals aimed at limiting Ukraine’s resources, arguing that such measures would ultimately pressure Kyiv into accepting an unjust settlement while leaving the country exposed to continued insecurity.
“Those who seek to limit Ukraine’s resources ultimately want to force it to make an unjust peace, leaving it in a state of constant vulnerability and making Europe vulnerable as well. This is the spirit of defeat. This is a recipe for the next war. This cannot be France’s position,” he said.
Ukraine’s Role in European and NATO Security
Macron described Ukraine as possessing Europe’s strongest conventional armed forces, emphasising its strategic importance to the continent’s collective security architecture.
He maintained that Ukraine had a significant role to play within NATO and deserved a place in the alliance, underscoring France’s continued support for its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
His remarks came as Ukraine once again emerged as a central issue at the ninth summit of the European Political Community and the informal meeting of the European Council in Dublin.
Europe Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine
Reflecting on the discussions, Macron identified two key priorities shared by European leaders.
The first is to ensure that Ukraine receives the necessary financial, military and humanitarian assistance to withstand the winter months. He emphasised the importance of maintaining financial support and helping Kyiv protect its civilian population, power plants and electricity infrastructure against continued Russian attacks.
The second priority, he said, is to work closely with Ukraine towards achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.
Macron stressed that Europe must play a full and active role in the peace process, noting that the security and stability of the wider European region would depend on the outcome.
Kyiv Intensifies Diplomatic Engagement with European Leaders
The French president’s statement followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after his talks in Abu Dhabi.
The discussions focused, among other matters, on securing additional European assistance to help Ukraine overcome the winter period.
The leaders also coordinated positions on the opening of the remaining two negotiation clusters in Ukraine’s European Union accession process and discussed subsequent steps towards advancing the country’s membership bid.
Macron’s latest remarks reaffirm France’s position that any sustainable peace settlement must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and long-term security while preventing renewed instability across Europe.
BY: Victoria Shabranska
