Russia ‘a threat to Europe’ warns Macron as US halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron will discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners and warned the US might not ‘be on our side’ after Washington halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

A Ukrainian military servicewomen runs takes part in a training drill at an undisclosed location in the eastern region of Ukraine. Picture: AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he’ll discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners and warned Russia “has become a threat to France and Europe.”

In an address to the nation, Mr Macron said the French were “legitimately worried” about the start of a “new era” after Donald Trump halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a dramatic breakdown in relations between Kyiv and the White House.

“I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case,” he said.

“The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,” he added.

Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump had a public falling-out in the Oval Office last week, followed by Washington’s suspension of crucial US military aid.

CIA director John Ratcliffe on Thursday confirmed that intelligence sharing had also been frozen as Ukraine seeks to beat back the Russian invasion.

“President Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process,” Mr Ratcliffe told Fox News.

However Mr Ratcliffe said the pause “on the military front and the intelligence front” was temporary, and the United States will again “work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

Mr Zelensky said on Wednesday there had been “positive movement” with the US that could lead to another meeting.

“Today our Ukrainian and US teams began working on a meeting. Andriy Yermak and Mike Waltz spoke,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address, referring to his chief of staff and the US national security adviser.

“There is positive movement. We hope for the first results next week.”

Mr Zelensky is expected to attend an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Mr Trump has made clear his desire to swiftly end the war caused by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine through direct negotiations with Moscow, although he has been accused of appeasing Vladimir Putin at Ukraine’s cost.

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe at Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress. Picture: AFP

Mr Macron offered a stark picture of Russia’s aggressive behaviour, which he said does “not seem to know borders” after its invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia has become, at the moment I am speaking to you and for the years to come, a threat to France and Europe,” he said. “It would be madness to remain a spectator in this world of danger.”

He added: “Who can believe that this Russia of today will stop at Ukraine? “Russia has become a threat for France and Europe.”

But he warned Mr Trump that “peace cannot be agreed at any cost” and there cannot be a ceasefire that is “too fragile”.

Ahead of the EU summit that will focus on rearming the continent, he stressed the need for “new budget choices and extra investments” to boost defence spending in France.

Meanwhile, he said he would open a debate on extending France’s nuclear deterrent to other European nations, following a “historic” call from likely next German chancellor Friedrich Merz on extending that umbrella of protection.

“I have decided to open up the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our nuclear deterrent,” he said, adding that any decision on nuclear weapons use would remain with the French head of state.

Mr Merz, whose right-wing party won the Germany elections, said last month he wanted a discussion on “nuclear sharing” with France and Britain, Europe’s only nuclear powers other than Russia.

Warning that “Russia can no longer be trusted to keep its word”, Mr Macron also said once a deal is signed Ukraine’s allies must make sure it is “not invaded again by Russia”.

He reaffirmed that European military forces could be sent to Ukraine if a peace accord was signed to guarantee “respect” of a peace deal.

A peace agreement for Ukraine would be backed “perhaps, by the deployment of European forces,” he said.

“They won’t go to fight today, they won’t go to fight on the front line, but they would be there once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected,” he said.

He added European military chiefs of staff would meet in Paris next week to discuss how to support Ukraine after a peace deal.

Mr Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held separate talks with Mr Trump in Washington last week, followed by Mr Zelensky who was subjected to an excruciating public dressing-down by Trump and his Vice President JD Vance.

But Mr Zelensky appears to be seeking to lower the temperature after Friday’s White House bust-up with Trump where the US president accused the Ukrainian leader of not wanting peace and “gambling with World War III”.

Mr Zelensky on Wednesday called for a “truce” in the sea and sky as a first step to ending the three-year war with Russia, stressing that he was committed to peace.

During his address to US Congress on Tuesday. Mr Trump said Mr Zelensky told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Moscow and the finalisation of a US minerals deal, as Ukraine works to move on after the Oval Office spat.

Mr Zelensky has sought to bring Trump back onside, posting on social media that their clash was “regrettable” and he wanted “to make things right.”

Mr Trump a letter from Mr Zelensky that said: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.”

Meanwhile, French government spokeswoman said Mr Macron was considering a joint visit to Washington alongside Mr Zelensky and Sir Keir. The French president’s office however said no visit to Washington was being considered “at this stage.”

Washington’s moves against Ukraine have cemented fears in Kyiv and Europe that Kyiv could have to accept a settlement on terms favourable to Moscow or risk losing US support entirely.

For Ukraine’s armed forces, US intelligence is as important as military supplies in bloody fighting against the Russian offensive, and many ordinary Ukrainians have been shocked by Mr Trump cutting off assistance.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told reporters at the White House that “we have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship.”

The US president has made ending the war one of his top foreign policy priorities, though has yet to outline his plan for a deal both sides could endorse.

The Kremlin welcomed news of the Ukrainian leader’s letter to Mr Trump.

“This approach is generally positive,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in answer to a question from AFP.

However, the Kremlin has repeatedly thrown doubt on whether it would hold talks with Mr Zelensky.

On Wednesday, Mr Peskov cited a decree passed by Mr Zelensky that rules out direct negotiations with Putin.

The Ukrainian leader has since said on multiple occasions he would be willing to meet Mr Putin — but only after Kyiv and its Western allies agree a common negotiating position.

AFP