French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that there is a consensus among European nations on the need to prepare for a potential Russian attack in the coming years and that more efforts are needed to support Ukraine financially and militarily. About 20 European leaders met in Paris today to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicating their continued support for Ukraine and countering the Kremlin's narrative that Russia will prevail in a war that is now entering its third year.
In his opening remarks, Macron noted, "I observed that almost all the countries represented around this table said... that the common consensus is that we must be prepared within a few years for a Russian attack on it." He added, "We all agree that we do not want to wage war with the Russian people, but we are determined to keep the escalation under control," emphasizing that the meeting aimed to discuss how to "do more regarding military and financial support for Ukraine."
Macron invited his European counterparts to the Élysée Palace for a hastily arranged meeting to discuss how to increase ammunition supplies to Ukraine amid what his advisers say is an escalation of Russian aggression in recent weeks. A presidential adviser told journalists before the meeting, "We want to send a very clear message to Putin: he will not win in Ukraine. Our goal is to crush this idea he wants us to believe he will somehow succeed."
After initially repelling the Russian army, Ukraine has faced setbacks on the eastern battlefields, where its generals have complained about a shortage of weapons and soldiers. In his speech to the leaders via video link, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky supported Macron's warning regarding the escalation of the conflict, stating, "We must ensure that Putin cannot undermine our achievements and that he cannot expand his aggression to other countries."
