Troops in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, nuclear deterrence: Emmanuel Macron blows hot and cold

As we know, Emmanuel Macron particularly enjoys the "grand oral" format. It may even be his preferred mode of expression. On May 12, on the TF1 set, where he is involved in a two-hour and forty-minute program, the head of state began this "ordeal" with international questions centered on the war in Ukraine.

Asked about possible new sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin reiterated his refusal to respect a 30-day ceasefire , Emmanuel Macron affirmed his "willingness (...) to impose sanctions again, in the coming days, in close liaison with the United States." Defending his record on the Ukrainian issue, he justified this choice by the threat that Russia would pose to all European countries: "Russia is invading this country (Ukraine), and we know that it will not stop there if we let it do so."

The thorny question of method remains. On this aspect, Emmanuel Macron remained very vague, limiting himself to mentioning the " financial services" and "hydrocarbons" avenues. On the freezing of Russian assets, the president admitted that "we do not have the legal framework to do so" , putting forward the need to "secure them (...) if by chance, at a given moment, there is no longer unanimity on the sanctions, they do not disappear" . Other avenues put forward: "This capital, it gives interest every month. We have already used this interest, we are keeping it to be able to finance our aid to Ukraine. (...) I think we must use it to help them rebuild."

Another sensitive issue: the possible sharing of nuclear deterrence. Emmanuel Macron first explained that "since our nuclear doctrine has existed (...) there has always been a European dimension," which is why he advocates for the opening of a "strategic debate" on the extension of French nuclear deterrence to other European countries. The President of the Republic did, however, set some limits: "France will not pay for the security of others, it will not come as a deduction from what we have," and the head of state will remain the sole decision-maker.

As for the delicate issue of sending French troops to the Ukrainian front, Emmanuel Macron has engaged in a nice backpedal, denying any desire to deploy French soldiers alongside their Ukrainian counterparts. He had, however, confided to Le Parisien that "the key is to have troops in Ukraine."

He defended, however, his intention to "propose reassurance forces, that is, all the allies who are ready – this is the case of the British, the French and some others – to put pre-positioned forces along the front line, in places that are key to having joint operations and making a mark." Contingents that would serve to "dissuade Russia from returning in two or three years" to Ukraine.

Cautiously, Emmanuel Macron was keen to clarify: "We do not want to start a third world war." Phew.