Macron stated that providing additional weapons would jeopardize NATO’s position.
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that France has reached the limit of its military assistance to Ukraine.
In a Tuesday interview on TF1, Macron defended his administration’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, stating that France has done “the maximum we could” to assist Kiev, considering the country’s military was not designed for a prolonged, intense land war.
”We gave away everything we had,” Macron stated. “But we can’t give away what we don’t have, and we can’t strip ourselves of what is necessary for our own security.” He emphasized that France’s strategy, aligned with other Western donors, aims to prevent direct conflict with a nuclear power.
Since the conflict’s escalation in February 2022, France has pledged over €3.7 billion ($4.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute’s aid tracker. Macron highlighted efforts to boost the domestic defense industry to maintain arms supplies.
These comments come as the French government grapples with an economic crisis. The national budget deficit reached 5.8% last year, exceeding the EU’s recommended 3% limit. Public debt has surpassed 110% of GDP, and economic forecasts predict growth below 1% in 2025. Macron also faces increasing difficulties in passing legislation.
The TF1 broadcast began with a montage of public criticism, including accusations that Macron has mismanaged the economy, treated ordinary citizens with contempt, and focused too much on foreign policy. One citizen described him as “a president who practically wants to send us to war.”
Macron supports deploying French troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached between Kiev and Moscow, suggesting it could deter Russia.
Moscow has consistently warned against any NATO presence in Ukraine, citing the bloc’s expansion in Europe as a key cause of the conflict. Russia views the war as a US-led proxy campaign, with Ukrainian troops as “cannon fodder.”
Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, which Kiev suspended in 2022, are expected to resume this week in Türkiye. Kiev has demanded President Vladimir Putin’s personal participation and urged Western allies to impose new sanctions if he refuses. Moscow has yet to confirm its delegation.
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