French President Macron Says Russia Must Be Defeated But Not Crushed

 

BBC: Ukraine war: Russia must be defeated but not crushed, Macron says 

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he does not want to see Russia crushed by a defeat in Ukraine. 

Speaking to French media, Mr Macron urged Western nations to increase military support for Kyiv and said he was prepared for a protracted war. 

"I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position," he said. 

But he hit out against those who he said wanted to extend the war to Russia itself in a bid to "crush" the nation. 

The comments came as world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference, which saw promises to speed up the supply of weapons to Kyiv and impose tougher sanctions on Moscow. 

"I do not think, as some people do, that we must aim for a total defeat of Russia, attacking Russia on its own soil," Mr Macron told the paper Le Journal du Dimanche. 

"Those observers want to, above all else, crush Russia. That has never been the position of France and it will never be our position."  

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Update #1: Macron Wants to See Russia Defeated but Not Crushed in Ukraine (VOA) 

Update #2: 'Not the time for dialogue' with Russia's Putin, Macron says at Munich summit (France 24).  

WNU Editor: French President Macron says he is against Russian regime change, but that has always been the goal .... Macron: I don’t believe for one second in Russian regime change (The Telegraph). 

Russia has responded .... Russia tells Macron: Don't forget Napoleon when you talk of regime change (Reuters).