Leaders of several major French political parties said President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday that France would consider all options to defend Ukraine two years into Russia's invasion.
Speaking after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the party leaders expressed their concerns, with some accusing Macron of using the conflict to strengthen his coalition's standing ahead of crucial European elections this summer.
Opposition Criticizes Macron
With the meeting on Thursday, Macron hoped to unite people in support of Ukraine or, short of that, to expose opponents who are still too weak-kneed or servile to Moscow. He told the party leaders, "Faced by an enemy that imposes no limit on itself, we cannot allow ourselves to impose our own."
However, the president received criticism after the three-hour meeting. Jordan Bardella, the president of the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, said that Macron was prepared to back Ukraine with "no limit" and "no red line," calling his approach "irresponsible and extremely dangerous for peace in the world."
Far-left heavyweight Manuel Bompard added he arrived worried and left even more anxious.
Recalling that Macron had stated that Putin "obviously has no limits," Green Party leader Marine Tondelier claimed it was "extremely worrying" to see Macron say that they must show no limits.
The president's arguments also failed to persuade others. Fabien Roussel, the secretary of the Communist Party, claimed that Macron had used a map to show possible advances of ascendant Russian troops toward the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the southern port of Odesa.
Furthermore, Macron called on Ukraine's allies not to be "cowards" in helping the former Soviet nation combat the Russian invasion earlier this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on Thursday that Macron has continued to raise the level of France's direct involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
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France to Vote on Ukraine's Strategy
France's parliament will have a chance to vote on the country's Ukraine strategy, including a bilateral security treaty signed with Kyiv last month. Debates and non-binding votes will take place next Tuesday in the National Assembly lower house and the Senate upper house on Wednesday.
Macron also met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Thursday, and the two signed a bilateral defense deal agreement and an economic roadmap. However, no details were provided.
Later on Thursday, France was scheduled to convene a video conference with around 30 nations, including Ukraine, to discuss proposals addressed at an international meeting on Ukraine that Macron hosted last week.
After the negotiations, Hollande pleaded for increased support for Ukraine and European unity. Hollande said the only possible response was to show that they were with the Ukrainians in total solidarity and give them all the support they needed without participating in any combat.
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