Macron hits back at Russia, defends nuclear deterrence

French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.

Macron responded to Russian warnings after his Wednesday address, where he said France’s nuclear deterrence should be seen as part of Europe’s defence against Russia’s military ambitions. The Kremlin had compared Macron’s stance to Napoleon’s failed invasion of Russia.

"I know President Putin well. If he's reacting like that, it's because he knows what I said is true," Macron told reporters. He accused Russia—not France—of imperialism, referencing its war in Ukraine.

Macron also said Putin had broken past agreements, including the Minsk accords, and warned that Russia’s military plans went beyond Ukraine. "He was probably piqued by the fact we're exposing his game," he said.

On U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments questioning NATO commitments, Macron recalled that French and European troops had fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan.

Macron confirmed that he had discussed nuclear security with EU leaders and invited them to a meeting of European army chiefs in Paris on Tuesday. He expects further defence cooperation talks by mid-2025.

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