politicians’ reactions after the meeting on Ukraine at the Élysée

At the end of the meeting between Emmanuel Macron and party leaders at the Élysée on Thursday morning, the latter denounced the absence of “limits” placed by the head of state on French support for Ukraine.

Critics abound after the meeting on Ukraine held at the Élysée on Thursday March 7. Emmanuel Macron received party leaders to discuss the conflict ahead of a debate and a vote in Parliament next week and after raising the possibility of sending Western troops to the field. The president assured party leaders that there was no “limit”no “Red line” in France’s support for Ukraine, several of them told franceinfo.

This position did not convince party leaders. After nearly three hours of discussions, some say they emerge from the meeting more worried than before their arrival at the Élysée. Most participants regret that the president does not pose any “boundaries” in support of Ukraine, some going so far as to denounce a “war escalation.

“France must put red lines”, believes Jordan Bardella

“We can consider many solutions, but not to plunge two arms forward into world war”declared the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, after the meeting. “The President of the Republic is ready for unlimited support, all the way to Ukraine”, he assured. But “France must put red lines”, he estimated. According to him, the president’s position “plays into Putin’s hands and shows the division of the Western clan”.

On the vote on the bilateral security agreement organized Tuesday in the National Assembly, Jordan Barella indicated that he would discuss it “with Marine Le Pen in the coming hours”. He said to himself “in favor in principle but we must place red lines”he insisted.

He also estimated that Emmanuel Macron and Gabriel Attal “lose their cool” when they compare “the RN under foreign occupation”It is “irresponsible” And “the European campaign does not allow everything”.

“I very sincerely wonder about the usefulness of this meeting,” says Eric Ciotti

“I sincerely wonder about the usefulness of this meeting”for his part released the president of the Republicans, Eric Ciotti. “Nothing very concrete, anything very new came out. The president did not clarify any ambiguity” added the deputy for Alpes-Maritimes. “We can above all wonder the relevance of the president’s statements which have not contributed to advancing diplomatic relations one iota.”

“I reiterated the Republicans’ total support for Ukraine, for financial aid and for military equipment. We will say it on Tuesday in the Assembly, but on the other hand, I reiterated our total opposition to a commitment of troops on the ground. It’s an inappropriate, irresponsible position.”tackled Eric Ciotti.

The left regrets that the president “remains on his positions”

“It was a useful and necessary meeting”for her part judged the national secretary of ecologists Marine Tondelier, however considering that she had not “the impression that it moves an inch” President. She emphasized “unanimity” opposition to the President on the question of sending troops to Ukraine.

Same story with the first secretary of the socialist party, “it was useful that we could meet again” but “the head of state remained in his positions and did not want to change. He told us that he did not rule out anything against Russia”.

On the side of the Insoumis, the national coordinator Manuel Bompard said he was “Arrived worried, and left even more worried” faced with the lack of change in Emmanuel Macron’s position. “The president, far from going back on his statements, confirmed them on several occasions, that there were no limits, that Ukraine had to be supported whatever the cost.”

“Today, we are choosing to participate in this warlike escalation, it is extremely dangerous”, also denounced the national secretary of the Communist Party, Fabien Roussel. He affirms that “all political forces” agree on the objective that “we don’t want Russia to win, everything must be done” but “our only point of difference is the means we put into it”. He estimates that “we see little diplomatic effort” from the president.