French President Emmanuel Macron was criticized for his statement that if Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, France's response will definitely not be nuclear.
This is reported by Politico.
Most of the critical feedback is related to the fact that Macron outlined the limits of France's possible response.
"The reliability of nuclear deterrence lies in not saying exactly what we could do," ex-president Francois Hollande commented on Macron's words, noting that it is better to "say as little as possible and be ready to do as much as possible."
Deputy and vice-president of the defense committee of the National Assembly (the lower house of the parliament) Jean-Louis Thieriot said that he "almost fell off his chair" after hearing Macron's statement.
"This is a political mistake. One of the principles of nuclear deterrence is to maintain uncertainty about what (the state) considers vital interests," he commented.
Bruno Tertre, deputy head of the think tank "Fondation for Strategic Studies", believes that the correct answer for Macron would be that he "will not play this game". "In any case, Putin should know that he will lose," the expert believes.
He also noted that he does not want the Third World War, and the aid to Ukraine is aimed at restoring its territorial integrity, and Ukraine must regain control over its territories within the 1991 borders.