Emmanuel Macron: I won’t fire nukes, even if they’re unleashed by Putin

Emmanuel Macron was accused of breaching NATO unity last night after declaring France would not respond in kind if Russia used nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

The French president risked a row with Britain and the United States by saying “non” to his country using its nuclear arsenal in such a scenario.

The UK and US deliberately do not declare what action they would take – denying Vladimir Putin the benefit of knowing what response he would face.

The stance of “calculated ambiguity” about nuclear weapons has been strongly supported in London and Washington for decades.

It is also backed by NATO allies which do not possess their own independent nuclear deterrent.

But President Macron told French TV: “Our doctrine rests on the fundamental interests of the nation. They are defined clearly and wouldn’t be directly affected at all if, for example, there was a ballistic nuclear attack in Ukraine.”

France has endured a somewhat strained relationship with NATO. It was a founding member of the alliance in 1949but found itself in disagreement with its allies in the 1950s and 1960s.

This led to President Charles de Gaulle removing France from NATO’s integrated military command in 1966.

It reintegrated in 2009.

Last night, retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry, the Royal Navy’s former head of operational capability and doctrine, told the DailyMail: “So Macron has told Putin he doesn’t have to worry about France.

“His remarks were juvenile and did his country a disservice.

“Silence and ambiguity and vital enablers of a nuclear deterrent.

“The worst thing to do is signal your intentions. Much better to…say there will be a forceful response but don’t mention specifics.

“Macron has undermined that deterrent.”

Retired Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, who previously commanded the British Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, agreed saying: “In the largest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War, Macron has completely handed the initiative to Putin.

“If Putin thinks he could get away with nuking Ukraine then it makes it rather more likely he seek to do so, especially as his conventional forces appear nearly beaten. It was a rather stupid comment at this delicate time.”

Retired Major General Rupert Jones, who led Britain’s response to combating Islamic State told the Daily Mail Mr Macron’s remarks were unhelpful because they created “disunity”.

He added: “Sign-posting to Putin he wouldn’t use nuclear weapons helps him. He must be left unsure.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Macron’s remarks “revealed his hand”.

Volodomyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, believes Russia is laying the groundwork for a possible nuclear attack.

After a third successive night of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, Mr Zelensky declared his country had “just 10 per cent” of the air defence systems it needs.

NTO states have pledged to send more equipment to block the missiles.

More than 40 cities and towns were subjected to Russian bombardment. Military and energy targets were also hit.