Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that French President Emmanuel Macron's nuclear statements pose a threat to Russia, Reuters reports, BTA reports.
Lavrov commented on Macron's speech, in which the French leader announced that he was considering the possibility of placing European allies under the protection of the French nuclear arsenal.
“If he considers us a threat, convenes meetings of the general staffs of European countries and Britain, talks about using nuclear weapons and is preparing to direct them against Russia, this is undoubtedly a threat“, Lavrov said, quoted by RIA Novosti.
The Russian Foreign Minister drew a parallel between Macron's words and those of historical figures such as Napoleon and Hitler.
“Unlike his predecessors, who openly declared their intentions to conquer Russia, Mr Macron acts differently. He argues that it is necessary to go to war with Russia so that it does not defeat France, while at the same time accusing it of creating a threat to Europe,“ Lavrov said.
According to him, the French president may take “reckless actions“ to restore his damaged reputation in France.
Lavrov also warned that Moscow would view the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine as direct participation of NATO in the war against Russia. Several European leaders have recently expressed the idea of sending a peacekeeping contingent after a possible ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow.
“We do not see any possible compromise. This discussion has a frankly hostile purpose towards Russia,“ Lavrov was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.