French President Emmanuel Macron called Russia led by President Vladimir Putin an enemy who would not stop in Ukraine, if he succeeded in defeating Kyiv forces in a conflict that had lasted for two years, urging Europe not to become "weak" and preparing to respond.
"If Russia wins this war, the credibility of Europe will be reduced to zero," President Macron said in a television interview, after opposition French leaders criticized his comments as a warlike attitude.
President Macron further said he "very" disagreed with opposition leaders.
"Today, deciding to abstain or vote against support for Ukraine, does not mean choosing peace, but choosing defeat. That is different," he said.
The main opposition party, Marine Le Pen's far right, abstained in parliament in a vote earlier this week over a security pact signed by France with Ukraine. While France's left-wing party Unbowed voted against it.
"If war spreads in Europe, it is Russia to blame," said President Macron.
"But if we decide to be weak; if we decide today that we will not respond, it means we have chosen defeat. And I don't want that," he said.
He said it was important for Europe not to draw a red line, which would signal the Kremlin's weakness and encourage it to continue the invasion of Ukraine. He declined to provide details as to what kind of deployment of troops to Ukraine would be.
"I don't want to do that. I want Russia to stop this war and step down from its position and allow peace," he said.
"I will not give visibility to someone who does not give me visibility. This is a question for President Putin," he continued.
"I have reason not to be precise," said President Macron.
He said Ukraine was in a "difficult" situation on the ground and needed stronger support from allies.
"Peace does not mean the surrender of Ukraine," he said.
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"Desiring peace does not mean defeat. Wanting peace does not mean bringing down Ukraine," he stressed.
President Macron said France would never launch attacks on Russia, and Paris did not go to war with Moscow, despite the fact that Russia has launched aggressive attacks on France's interests at home and abroad.
"The Kremlin regime is an enemy," he said, but declined to call Russia an enemy.
He added that he hopes that one day the time will come to negotiate peace with the Russian President "who he is".
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