Don’t Forget Napoleon: Russia Tells France’s Macron Over Regime Change Remark

Macron:

Russia scolded Emmanuel Macron on Sunday over remarks about wanting to see Russia defeated, saying Moscow still remembers the fate of Napoleon Bonaparte and accusing the French president of fake diplomacy with the Kremlin .

Macron told the paper Le Journal du Dimanche that France wanted Russia defeated in Ukraine but that it never wanted to “crush” it.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “About ‘never’: France did not begin with Macron, and Napoleon’s remains, revered at the state level, rest in the center of Paris. Understanding France – and Russia – Needed.”

“In general, Macron is priceless,” he said, adding that his remarks suggested the West had discussed regime change in Russia, while Macron has repeatedly sought a meeting with the Russian leadership.

Macron has drawn criticism from some NATO allies for sending mixed messages about his policy on the war between Ukraine and Russia, with some viewing Paris as a weak link in the Western alliance.

On Friday, Macron urged allies to increase military support for Ukraine, but also said he does not believe in regime change and that at some point there will have to be talks.

“Let’s be clear, I don’t believe in regime change for one second, and when I hear so many people calling for regime change I ask them, ‘For what change? Who’s next? Who’s your leader? Is?'”

Clarifying those comments, he said in the paper that he did not believe that a democratic solution would emerge from within civil society in Russia after Moscow’s position and years of conflict. He said he saw no alternative but to Putin, who had to be brought back to the negotiating table.

“All the alternatives look worse to me in the current system than Vladimir Putin,” Macron said.

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