Macron slams ‘pacifists’, ‘spirit of defeat’ on Ukraine war

French President Emmanuel Macron has lambasted what he called the “camp of pacifists” and the “spirit of defeat” over the Ukraine war, vowing that “capitulators” will fail to end Ukrainian resistance.

The French leader made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, more than 25 months after Russia waged a war against its ex-Soviet republic neighbor. 

“We know this camp of pacifists. It is the one of capitulators. It’s the spirit of defeat. We are not like this,” Macron said.

He said “capitulation of the side that was attacked” could not bring peace in the conflict.

“We are for peace in line with international law, but which recognizes the legitimate right of a people to resist when it is attacked. This is the only peace that counts. So the pressure we are exerting is on Russia,” Macron added.

In February 2022, Moscow launched its special military operation in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region to stop NATO’s eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was pursuing an “aggressive line” against Russia.

The West responded by imposing waves of harsh sanctions against Russia and pouring advanced arms and military hardware into Ukraine.

Macron said Paris wanted to “finalize” the creation of a coalition of military instructors for Kiev in the coming days.

“We will use the days to come to finalize the largest possible coalition to implement Ukraine’s demand,” he said. 

Russian authorities have warned that French instructors would become a “legitimate target” for Moscow.

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Macron's rhetoric jarried with Zelensky's relatively pacifist tone ahead of a peace summit which is due to be held in Switzerland later this month.

"It is very important to have a fair and lasting peace. Not for an hour, not for a month, not for a year. Preferably forever,” the Ukrainian leader said. 

The development came as NATO foreign ministers gathered in the Czech capital of Prague to prepare more arms and ammo for Kiev and decide whether to remove restrictions stopping Ukraine from using the weapons, notably long-range missiles, to strike targets on Russian soil.

Russia has repeatedly warned that a continued supply of Western arms and military equipment for the Ukrainian military would only prolong the war.

Macron said, “France continues to support Ukraine in all areas including on the European level by seeking to have the effective launch of membership negotiations by the end of the month.”

He also stressed that France wanted an “irreversible path” to NATO membership for Ukraine.

Russia has time and again warned Ukraine against membership in NATO, calling the move a “purely destabilizing” measure.

It has also warned the US-led military alliance against its further expansion towards the borders of the Russian Federation.

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