Macron warns: Europe has to prepare for a possible attack by Putin

France always wants to be the captain of the ship, and that includes leading a speech no matter how alarming it may be.. This Monday the French president, Emmanuel Macron, called to continue supporting Ukraine and also for Europe to prepare for a possible attack by Vladimir Putin's Russia in the coming years.. He said it precisely at a summit organized in Paris together with other European leaders – including the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez – precisely to reaffirm support for kyiv at a key moment in the war.

A report published by the World Bank, the European Commission and the Ukrainian Government estimated last week that the cost of rebuilding the country amounts to around €450 billion, and will take a decade to complete once the war ends; although recovery efforts are already underway with the conflict underway. More specifically, kyiv will need 15 billion euros in 2024 alone, of which only 5,500 have been guaranteed by its international partners.. The accounts, at times, do not work out, although the EU remains involved in that support.

In this complex scenario, France wants to lead the message of optimism for Ukraine. And at the moment, Volodimir Zelensky is asking his allies for more weapons and ammunition at a time when Moscow is advancing on the front.. Mostly leaders from European countries traveled to the French capital, such as the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, or the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, but representatives from the United States and Canada also arrived.. Paris, in this scenario, assumes that “it is time to continue supporting Ukraine” because Russia has toughened its offensive.

“We all agree that we do not want to go to war with the Russian people,” Macron acknowledged, but assured that it is “a question of our own security,” and looking at the allies he asked them to “be prepared.”. In this sense, he said that the analysis “is clear” and that there is nothing to indicate that the Kremlin is not going to attack any of Ukraine's partners in the short or medium term.

Zelensky himself also maintained this line, speaking of the need for Western support to be maintained over time.. “Evidently, our arsenal, our ability to produce weapons, to deliver weapons to Ukraine and the continuity of support” are the key elements to “maintain stability” on the continent, he said, grateful for the summit organized by France. “Everything we do together to defend ourselves from Russian aggression will contribute to the real security of our people for decades to come,” he said.

“Every Russian loss teaches Russia, and any other adversary of Europe and the free world in general, that aggression does not and cannot give results,” concluded Zelensky, convinced that his country, after two years of war, it will not be able to win against Russia if the support of its allies, questioned at times by the United States, is not sustained; Meanwhile, the EU continues to approve sanctions against Russia and the sending of more logistical and, above all, economic support for Ukrainian troops.

Sánchez appeals for unity against the Kremlin

Pedro Sánchez, for his part, thanked Macron for the invitation and insisted that “unity is the best weapon against Putin.”. Thus, he reaffirmed Spain's commitment to continue helping Ukraine.. “Our determination is firm. We will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary to achieve peace,” he wrote on social networks upon his arrival at the Elysée.