Emmanuel Macron warns Europe will be next if Russia wins in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s troops are running desperately short of ammunition as they battle to hold off the Russian advances, fueling fears that a defensive collapse could see Putin’s forces closing in on Kyiv once again. For their part, European nations have struggled to maintain unity, bickering over what kind of equipment to provide and whether to consider sending troops into Ukraine.

“For a few years we’ve been living in a world where what we thought unthinkable is happening,” Macron said. “War is on European soil — there is less than 1,500 kilometers between Strasbourg and Lyiv.”

Macron sparked tensions with allies two weeks ago by saying nothing should be ruled out when asked about putting boots on the ground in Ukraine. He argued strategic ambiguity was needed to deter Moscow. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the White House swiftly rebuffed the option, while Putin warned NATO risks a nuclear conflict if it sends troops to aid Ukraine.

Macron has sought to take a lead in Europe on support for Ukraine, organizing a leaders summit in Paris at which countries agreed on a plan to source much-need ammunition for the Ukrainian military outside the European Union, and signing bilateral defense pacts with Ukraine and Moldova. Last week he sent his top diplomat to Lithuania to drum up support from the Baltic states, which praised his sense of urgency.

At the same time, Scholz has faced criticism for refusing to agree to Kyiv’s request to provide it with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. The chancellor has instead highlighted that Germany is one of Ukraine’s most generous backers, pledging military assistance worth around $30 billion.

While the meeting in Berlin won’t be a game changer, it is the last chance for Scholz and Macron to mend their ties ahead of June’s EU parliament election and the appointment of a new NATO leader further in the summer, the Eurasia Group said in a note.

“It is good that we are coming together in the Weimar Triangle format at this time,” Scholz told reporters Wednesday. “It is of course right to sit down and talk to each other now,” he added, while citing ammunition and artillery to Ukraine as urgent matters to be discussed. Scholz insisted his relationship with Macron is “very friendly.”