Russia will target Olympics... French President claimed
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed the possibility of targeting the Paris Olympics to be held in the summer. The French President's suspicion is on Russia. In response to a question on Thursday, Macron said he had "no doubt that Russia will maliciously target the Paris Olympics this summer." Macron said this at the inauguration of an Olympic center in Paris. For the first time, Macron has clearly admitted that there is a foreign threat to the security of the Games in the country or their smooth conduct.
The Paris Olympics is going to be held at a time when Russia's war in Ukraine and the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza continues. The situation has complicated efforts to secure the Olympics. Macron has adopted a tough stance against Russia since last month. He reiterated that Moscow must be defeated. In a statement given in February, he had said that the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out. However, the French President had made it clear that France has no intention of inciting hostilities against Russia.
Russia had warned France a day earlier
Macron's latest attack on Russia comes a day after a phone conversation between the French and Russian defense ministers in which Moscow issued a warning regarding Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had called his French counterpart Sebastian Lecornu on Wednesday. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu told Lecornu that if France followed through on the statement of troops in Ukraine it would create problems for France itself. This was the first conversation between the defense ministers of the two countries after October 2022. During this, Shoigu expressed Moscow's consent for talks on Ukraine.
France has taken a tough stance against Russian propaganda across Europe. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourn said France would propose EU-wide sanctions against those spreading disinformation. Earlier this week, Macron said in an interview with Ukrainian television that he would urge both Russia and Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire during the Games.
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