Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Warns French President Macron Of 'Lethal' Consequences On Backing Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign intelligence chief, Sergey Naryshkin, has condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's recent statement on the possibility of European troops joining the conflict in Ukraine.

Macron's refusal to rule out the deployment of European soldiers to fight Russian forces in Ukraine was deemed "extremely dangerous and irresponsible" by Naryshkin, head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

Macron's remarks, made last month, have escalated tensions amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has sparked the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Naryshkin warned that such statements indicate a high level of political irresponsibility among Europe's leaders, lamenting the lack of common sense in their decision-making processes.

The potential deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine has been a point of contention, with Macron suggesting that while there is no consensus on the matter, nothing should be excluded. However, the United States and other European NATO members have reiterated that there are currently no plans to send troops to Ukraine.

Naryshkin's criticism comes as Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev attributed Macron's statement to the failure of Kiev's counter-offensive and the successful actions of the Russian army in the ongoing military operation.

Patrushev accused the collective West of pursuing unrealistic plans to defeat Russia in Ukraine, accusing them of supporting a "neo-Nazi terrorist regime" and actively participating in the conflict by providing military assistance to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed confidence at a congressional hearing that NATO would intervene, if Ukraine were to lose the conflict with Russia. However, Russian President Putin has warned of dire consequences for any intruders, highlighting Russia's arsenal and its ability to target adversaries' territories.

The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with Russian forces advancing into Ukrainian territory amidst Kyiv's failed counter-offensive.

The conflict has not only strained relations between Russia and the West, but has also raised concerns about the potential for a broader conflict with catastrophic consequences.