French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview released Saturday, Feb. 19, that he wanted Russia to be defeated in its war with Ukraine, but not "crushed".

He was speaking after returning from the Munich Security Conference, where he urged allies to intensify their support for Ukraine, and said France was prepared for a drawn-out conflict.

"I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position," he told French newspapers JDD and Le Figaro and broadcaster France Inter.

"I am convinced that, in the end, this will not conclude militarily," he added, predicting that neither said could fully prevail in the conflict.

But he did not, like some, want the fight to be taken on to Russian soil. Such people, he said, "want above all to crush Russia.

"This has never been the position of France and it never will be."

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Comments (4)

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William Spillman
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First you defeat the tyrant, then you negotiate terms. Macron is naive in bringing this to the fore now. He should be having French spies plotting to take Putin out after having identified a successor, not waffling around like an inexperienced and counterproductive idiot. Putin is a megalomanic, not a rational human. He cannot be negotiated with.

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Terry
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What a wimp...just like other Euro leaders who talk a big game but want no part of the dirty work. Why should the American taxpayer care more for Europe's children than they do?

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SafferCA
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No sane person has been calling for Russia to be crushed. Where does Macron get that from? Most people are calling for Russia to at least withdraw to the borders prior to 24 February 2022 and ultimately to withdraw from the occupied territories. There must be reparations and justice for war crimes committed but that doesn't amount to attacking Russia on Russian soil or calling for the crushing or break-up of Russia. Macron is desperately trying to position himself as a reasonable peace broker as his influence in Europe wanes.

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marc
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Crush Russia and completely annihilate the Klingons...

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