French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called on the European Union to provide Ukraine with all forms of support, even if the United States were to reduce its military assistance to Kyiv.
In a speech to the Swedish Defense Academy, Macron said that the EU must take bold decisions about defending Ukraine, even if Washington were to refuse to provide the assistance that Ukraine needs at this time.
Macron also stressed that the future security architecture of Europe should not be subject to the decision of either the United States or Russia, and that European countries must have the right to determine their own future.
The article points out that Macron’s speech is a wake-up call for Europe, as he stressed that European countries must renew their efforts to protect their security and be prepared for the possibility that US President Joe Biden may not be able to obtain congressional approval to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, or that he may lose the upcoming presidential election scheduled for the end of this year.
Macron stressed that the current moment represents a real test for European countries, explaining that Europe must prepare to defend itself and provide more military assistance to Ukraine, regardless of the cost or the US decision in this regard.
He added that European countries have been lucky to have the United States as an ally, but that Europe must face the reality that Ukraine is a part of Europe, and therefore European countries must make their own decisions about Ukrainian assistance.
Macron explained that European countries must do everything in their power to prevent Russia from winning its current war with Ukraine, stressing that a Russian victory in that war would simply be a threat to the security of European countries, especially those NATO members located in Eastern Europe.
The article concludes by noting Macron’s confirmation that the price that European countries may pay in the event of a Russian victory in the war would be high in the short and long term, which is what should drive the entire European continent to strengthen its defense capabilities and produce more weapons to strengthen Ukraine’s position in any future peace negotiations with the Russian side in order to end the war.