Emmanuel Macron spoke this Tuesday morning about the “transformation of universal national service”, in the context of the Russian threat and the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, RTL’s guest, the President of the Republic, did not provide further information about the possible establishment of voluntary military service in France. The Head of State, who is expected to speak on this soon, however wanted to reassure: “We must dispel the confusing idea that we will send our young generation to Ukraine. »
Regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia, the coalition will meet again this Tuesday. If the president believes that the peace plan proposed by the US is “going in the right direction”, then he believes there are several elements that “deserve to be discussed, negotiated and improved”. The text includes several key demands for Moscow: that Ukraine cede territory, agree to reduce the size of its army and abandon joining NATO.
In contrast, for Emmanuel Macron, the first guarantee of security is a “strong Ukrainian army”. Then, once peace is signed, a supporting “guarantee force” from Kyiv will be present. The head of state emphasized that it was never “planned to be in the forward zone”: however an air collateral force could be created, but “from neighboring countries”.
Responding to Donald Trump, he stressed that it was “up to Europe to decide” what to do with frozen Russian assets in Europe.
Don’t be “weak” in the face of “threats” from Russia
The Head of State appealed not to be “weak” in the face of “threats” from Russia. He assured that Moscow is “leading the strategic confrontation against Europe” in a variety of ways. How ? By attacking hospitals, through cyber attacks, airstrikes, “actions that destabilize”, according to the head of state.
The president believes that “if we abandon Ukraine, we send a signal of weakness to Russia, which has made a strategic choice: to return to being an imperial power.” “Russia has a much more aggressive posture (…) It has a series of equipment and we are within range of this equipment. If we want to protect ourselves as French, which is my only obsession, we have to show that we are not weak,” continued the head of state.
Budget: “well wishes” for compromise
Finally, the Head of State said that he “hopes” that “the parliamentary forces responsible for this” will find a compromise “in the coming weeks” on the draft budget despite its rejection at the first reading in the Assembly.
“If political leaders in Parliament are worried, instead of commenting on their concerns, let them focus on building compromises for the country they love and want to serve,” he said.
Are we heading towards a new dissolution if there is no compromise on the budget? “I do not write political fiction (…) what I can tell you is that our country is stronger than many people want to say,” said Emmanuel Macron.
