Macron Calls Putin a ‘Predator' and an ‘Ogre'
The statement, made in an interview with the French TV news network LCI that was broadcast on Tuesday, was consistent with Mr. Macron's recent warnings that Mr. Putin is not to be trusted. But it was blunter and harsher than his previous characterizations of the Russian leader.
The remarks represented a considerable shift from the warmth between the two men six years ago, when Mr. Macron invited Mr. Putin to the Brégançon fort, the summer retreat of French presidents that is on the southern coast of France. Mr. Macron declared after that meeting that the 'architecture of security' between the European Union and Russia needed reinvention to take account of Russian strategic concerns.
Speaking after the meeting in Washington on Monday between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, which Mr. Macron and other European leaders attended, the French president called Mr. Putin 'a destabilizing force' who 'needs to eat for his own survival.' This appeared to be an allusion to the 2022 Russian invasion aimed at swallowing Ukraine and to Moscow's earlier predations in Crimea and Georgia.
Mr. Macron called Russia a potential threat for many European countries and warned their leaders not to be naïve. 'I am not saying that France will be attacked tomorrow, but the menace is there for Europeans,' he said.
In effect, Mr. Macron appears to be playing bad cop to Mr. Trump's good cop, siding emphatically with Mr. Zelensky and repeatedly expressing pessimism about Mr. Putin's willingness to reach a peace settlement that is not a Ukrainian capitulation.
Mr. Macron has clearly been angered by Mr. Putin's broken promises, including a pledge the Russian leader made to him not to send troops into Ukraine just before the full-scale invasion. The French leader also views the defense of Ukraine as an absolute condition for the strong and resilient Europe he seeks to build in light of American unpredictability under Mr. Trump.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 minutes ago
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith blames Biden, Obama, and Clinton for Russia-Ukraine war in fiery rant
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith defended President Donald Trump against those who blame him for the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war during a fiery rant on his podcast, 'The Stephen A. Smith Show,' on Monday. During his defense of Trump, Smith shifted blame onto former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for their actions in the region while they were in office, arguing that the major catalysts for this war occurred on their watch. 'We ain't gonna act like he [Trump] caused this now. It's Democrats in office,' Smith asserted. 'It was Biden in office when a full-fledged war against Ukraine took place, courtesy of Russia's instigation, no matter what they try to say to Trump.' Smith noted that Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 during the Obama administration, a conflict that helped fuel the current war in Ukraine. In 2014, the Kremlin annexed the Crimean Peninsula after what Ukrainians refer to as the Revolution of Dignity, when they ousted Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych. It was a quick and relatively bloodless takeover. Russia flooded the region with migrants and prevented Ukraine from reclaiming it. 5 Stephen A. Smith made these comments on his podcast 'The Stephen A. Smith Show' on Monday. The Stephen A. Smith Show 5 President Joe Biden speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2022, in Washington. AP The Obama administration provided Ukraine with non-lethal aid, sanctioned the Kremlin and kicked Russia out of the G-8, but some — reportedly even including Obama's then-vice president, Biden — believed he should have done more. The ESPN host continued his argument, calling the Clinton administration, which, in Smith's view, was responsible for creating a dependence of Ukraine on the United States after the former president played a key role in Ukraine's decision to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances in 1994. 'It was Clinton in office when you made a deal that disarmed Ukraine, and therefore weakened them, leaving them dependent on the United States,' he argued. 'And now, here they are having to beg for support that they're owed because of what we promised them as a nation.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters 5 President Barack Obama speaks about the crisis in Ukraine from the White House in Washington March 17, 2014. REUTERS 5 President Bill Clinton speaks at a press conference in the Briefing Room at the Conrad Hotel in Brussels on Jan. 10, 1994. AP 5 President Donald Trump poses for a photo with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Billy Mitchell Room at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Friday, August 15, 2025. White House 'We promised them this! You owe it to the Ukraine, Ukrainians, you absolutely do. I'm not saying I like it. I'm not saying I like spending billions of our taxpayer dollars to them. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, promises made are supposed to be promises kept!' he exclaimed. Smith concluded by rejecting any equivalency between the two warring nations, emphasizing that Ukraine's sovereignty was under attack and that Ukrainians should not be seen as the 'villains' in the conflict.
Fox News
5 minutes ago
- Fox News
Steve Witkoff: Trump has an uncanny ability to 'bend people to his sensible way of thinking'
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, discusses President Donald Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war on 'Hannity.'
CNN
5 minutes ago
- CNN
White House Says Putin Has Agreed To A Direct Meeting With Zelensky - The Arena with Kasie Hunt - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
White House Says Putin Has Agreed To A Direct Meeting With Zelensky The Arena with Kasie Hunt 45 mins The panel reacts to the White House's announcement that "accommodations" are "under way" for a direct meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. Former CIA Director Leon Panetta discusses how the relationship between Trump and Putin could impact the chances for a peace deal. Plus, CNN speaks with a Texas state representative about her ongoing, marathon protest against Republicans' effort to redraw the state's congressional districts.
