Ukraine journalist rips Macron’s nuclear response: “Don’t be like France”

Ukrainian journalist Kate Levchuk on Thursday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron for his tweet after saying in a Wednesday interview that France would “evidently” avoid using nuclear weapons in case of a Russian nuclear attack in Ukraine.

“We do not want a World War,” Macron tweeted, adding in the same thread: “We are helping Ukraine to resist on its soil, never to attack Russia. Vladimir Putin must stop this war and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”

His comments drew criticism from the Ukrainian reporter, who works as a Special Correspondent for the Kyiv Post. She responded to his tweet, saying: “You didn’t want WWII as well. So you just welcomes Nazis into your lands & let Brits fight for you. Learn history, kids. Don’t be like France.”

“France has a nuclear doctrine, that is based on the vital interests of the country and which are clearly defined. These would not be at stake if there was a nuclear ballistic attack in Ukraine or in the region,” Macron told French TV channel France 2 on Wednesday.

In response to Macron’s tweets, Twitter user Jay in Kyiv responded: “Macron’s weakness is legendary.”

Another Twitter user, named Jaro.m asked Macron: “Are you going to ignore that russia is a terrorist state?”

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted: “We do not want to appease evil. Thought you guys learned that 70 years ago.”

Macron’s comments that France would not engage in a nuclear response in case Russia launches a nuclear attack ultimately do not sit well with European Union nations that are NATO members, like Romania, Slovakia and Poland. Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulates that members should defend each other in case of an attack, Politico reported.

Though Putin hasn’t explicitly said that he will launch a nuclear attack, he previously warned that Moscow will use “all available means” to protect itself and that he will respond to threats that target Russia’s existence.

The Russian leader announced last month a partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine amid recent successful Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.

President Joe Biden recently warned against the risk of an “Armageddon” and added that Putin “is not joking” about using nuclear weapons.

“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since [President John F.] Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis,” Biden said at a fundraising event in New York. “We have a direct threat of the use of nuclear weapons if, in fact, things continue down the path they are going.”

Newsweek reached out to the French Embassy’s Press and Communication Office in Washington, D.C. for comment.