The National Times - 'No limits' to Ukraine support, Macron tells party leaders

Speaking after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the party chiefs said the talks with Macron left them concerned, with some accusing him of using the conflict to boost his coalition's standing ahead of crucial European elections this summer.

The president had last week stunned many in Europe by refusing to rule out the dispatch of Western ground troops to Ukraine, pointing to Russia's hardening stance.

And earlier this week Macron urged Ukraine's allies not to be "cowards" in supporting the ex-Soviet country to fight off the Russian invasion.

Some party leaders on Thursday said Macron advocated a "no limits" approach to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Green party leader Marine Tondelier recounted Macron saying Putin "obviously has no limits."

She said it was "extremely worrying" to see Macron tell the meeting "we must show we have no limits," too.

Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, said he had pleaded with Macron "not to go to war with Russia."

The president's thinking includes "no limits and no red lines", said Bardella.

Far-left heavyweight Manuel Bompard added: "I arrived worried and I left even more worried."

Weighing in from Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Macron "continues to raise the level of France's direct involvement" in the Ukraine war.

- 'Total solidarity' -

France's parliament will have a chance to vote on the country's Ukraine strategy, including a bilateral security treaty signed with Kyiv last month.

Debates and non-binding votes will take place next Tuesday in the National Assembly lower house and in the Senate upper house on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Macron also met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, pledging France's "unwavering support" for her ex-Soviet country as tensions mount between Chisinau and pro-Russian separatists.

During the meeting the two signed a bilateral defence deal, as well as an "economic roadmap", although no details were provided.

Later Thursday, France was also set to host a video conference of nearly 30 countries including Ukraine, which will follow up on the initiatives discussed at an international Ukraine summit hosted by Macron last week.

Ahead of Thursday's meeting with the opposition, Macron had spoken to his predecessors Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace late Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists after the talks, Hollande called for more aid for Ukraine as well as European unity.

"The only possible response is to show that we are with the Ukrainians in total solidarity, that we are giving them all the support they need, without taking part in any combat ourselves," Hollande said.

Asked about the possibility of sending troops, the Socialist former president said: "My position on military issues is: the less we say, the better."

- Election battle -

On Wednesday, government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot said that it was "quite obvious" that the RN was not aligned with Macron's call to do everything to ensure Russia's defeat.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has accused the RN of "supporting Russia more than Ukraine".

Most of Macron's European allies have said they would not send troops to Ukraine, while French officials have insisted any such forces could be sent to back operations such as de-mining rather than fighting Russian forces.

In an apparent response to Macron, Putin has warned of a "real" risk of nuclear war and said "that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory."

H.Davies--TNT