PRAGUE: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Ukraine‘s allies to not be “cowards” in supporting the nation to struggle off the Russian invasion.
He added that he “totally stood behind” controversial remarks made final week not ruling out deploying Western troops to Ukraine, which despatched a shockwave round Europe.
“We’re certainly approaching a second for Europe during which will probably be needed to not be cowards,” Macron mentioned on a go to to the Czech Republic, which is pushing a plan to purchase weapons exterior Europe for Ukraine.
Talking later after assembly his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, he requested: “Is that this or is it not our conflict? Can we glance away within the perception that we will let issues run their course?”
“I do not consider so, and subsequently I referred to as for a strategic surge and I totally stand behind that,” Macron mentioned.
Most of Macron’s European allies mentioned they’d not ship troops to Ukraine after his feedback on February 26.
French officers additionally insisted any such forces might be despatched to again operations similar to de-mining relatively than combating Russian forces.
“We would like no escalation, we have by no means been belligerent,” Macron mentioned Tuesday.
– Money for shells –
Pavel, a former NATO basic, agreed that Ukraine’s allies ought to search “new methods” to assist, including the West wouldn’t cross “the imaginary crimson line” by getting concerned in fight operations.
He advised NATO nations may as an example practice Ukrainian troopers in Ukraine, which might be “no violation of worldwide guidelines”.
The presidents additionally commented on Prague’s plan to gather cash to purchase ammunition for Ukraine exterior Europe, first introduced by Pavel at a safety convention in Munich final month.
Round 15 nations have voiced assist to the plan to purchase 500,000 rounds of 155-millimetre ammunition and 300,000 122-millimetre shells value about $1.5 billion.
Macron reiterated Tuesday that France backed the plan however didn’t say how a lot it would contribute. The Netherlands has already pledged to donate 100 million euros ($108.5 million).
Paris has up to now tended to funnel defence spending into its home trade and favoured European weapons manufacturing for EU cash.
Macron did throw his weight behind utilizing revenues from frozen Russian belongings in Europe to fund Ukraine’s defence, estimating them at 3-5 billion euros ($3.25 – 5.4 billion) per yr, however mentioned the capital ought to stay untouched.
“We’re not in favour of doing issues forbidden in worldwide regulation and opening a debate that I consider would weaken Europe,” he mentioned.
Nuclear tender
Macron and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a bilateral cooperation plan for 2024-2028, hailed by the French chief as a “basis for long-term industrial and strategic partnership”.
Macron additionally addressed a nuclear discussion board within the Czech capital, attended by a number of French power corporations together with the facility large EDF, nuclear gasoline distributor Orano and nuclear reactor producer Framatome.
EDF and South Korea’s KHNP are in competition for the Czech Republic’s multi-billion-euro tender to construct as much as 4 new items at its Temelin and Dukovany nuclear energy stations.
Macron mentioned EDF’s bid, because of be submitted in April, had “full assist of France”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orano signed a take care of the Czech state-run energy group CEZ to counterpoint uranium for the Dukovany plant, changing Russia‘s TVEL on this capability.
He added that he “totally stood behind” controversial remarks made final week not ruling out deploying Western troops to Ukraine, which despatched a shockwave round Europe.
“We’re certainly approaching a second for Europe during which will probably be needed to not be cowards,” Macron mentioned on a go to to the Czech Republic, which is pushing a plan to purchase weapons exterior Europe for Ukraine.
Talking later after assembly his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, he requested: “Is that this or is it not our conflict? Can we glance away within the perception that we will let issues run their course?”
“I do not consider so, and subsequently I referred to as for a strategic surge and I totally stand behind that,” Macron mentioned.
Most of Macron’s European allies mentioned they’d not ship troops to Ukraine after his feedback on February 26.
French officers additionally insisted any such forces might be despatched to again operations similar to de-mining relatively than combating Russian forces.
“We would like no escalation, we have by no means been belligerent,” Macron mentioned Tuesday.
– Money for shells –
Pavel, a former NATO basic, agreed that Ukraine’s allies ought to search “new methods” to assist, including the West wouldn’t cross “the imaginary crimson line” by getting concerned in fight operations.
He advised NATO nations may as an example practice Ukrainian troopers in Ukraine, which might be “no violation of worldwide guidelines”.
The presidents additionally commented on Prague’s plan to gather cash to purchase ammunition for Ukraine exterior Europe, first introduced by Pavel at a safety convention in Munich final month.
Round 15 nations have voiced assist to the plan to purchase 500,000 rounds of 155-millimetre ammunition and 300,000 122-millimetre shells value about $1.5 billion.
Macron reiterated Tuesday that France backed the plan however didn’t say how a lot it would contribute. The Netherlands has already pledged to donate 100 million euros ($108.5 million).
Paris has up to now tended to funnel defence spending into its home trade and favoured European weapons manufacturing for EU cash.
Macron did throw his weight behind utilizing revenues from frozen Russian belongings in Europe to fund Ukraine’s defence, estimating them at 3-5 billion euros ($3.25 – 5.4 billion) per yr, however mentioned the capital ought to stay untouched.
“We’re not in favour of doing issues forbidden in worldwide regulation and opening a debate that I consider would weaken Europe,” he mentioned.
Nuclear tender
Macron and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a bilateral cooperation plan for 2024-2028, hailed by the French chief as a “basis for long-term industrial and strategic partnership”.
Macron additionally addressed a nuclear discussion board within the Czech capital, attended by a number of French power corporations together with the facility large EDF, nuclear gasoline distributor Orano and nuclear reactor producer Framatome.
EDF and South Korea’s KHNP are in competition for the Czech Republic’s multi-billion-euro tender to construct as much as 4 new items at its Temelin and Dukovany nuclear energy stations.
Macron mentioned EDF’s bid, because of be submitted in April, had “full assist of France”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orano signed a take care of the Czech state-run energy group CEZ to counterpoint uranium for the Dukovany plant, changing Russia‘s TVEL on this capability.
