Emmanuel Macron denounces “the hardening of the Kremlin regime”.
Emmanuel Macron launched a blistering attack on Vladimir Putin and the “Kremlin regime” on Friday, denouncing a “desire for aggression” against Europeans and a “hardening” in Russia as EU presidential elections in March approach.
“Russia has entered a new phase and we must be clear on this issue,” the French president said grimly, hours after announcing the death of Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin's biggest opponent.
“A phase of aggression against European countries through disinformation actions and cyberattacks,” he emphasized together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he had just signed a bilateral security agreement. in the Elysée Palace.
“Russia has crossed several thresholds in this area in recent weeks and months,” he added, denouncing a change in “scale” and “type.” “There is clearly a desire for aggression against us,” he said.
This “change in attitude” by Russia “requires a common beginning” by the Europeans and their allies, the French president emphasized, calling for “the opening of a phase of new strategic and operational reflections.”
The death of Alexei Navalny in a prison in the Russian Arctic was “a tragic reminder of the reality of the Kremlin regime and its hardening,” he said.