Putin supports Macron's idea of forming a European army
In an interview with RT France during his visit to Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of forming unified European armed forces reflects a “generally positive process”.
“As for the alternative all-European armed forces, this is not a new idea. President Macron has reanimated it but one of the ex-presidents of France, Jacques Chirac, also told me about it. These ideas existed even before him,” Putin said.
“Europe is a powerful economic entity, a powerful economic union, so it is quite natural for member countries to want to be independent and sovereign in defense and security," he said.
Putin noted that, in general, it is a “positive process from the point of view of the multi-polar world.”
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of a "real European army" to protect Europe from Russia and even the United States.
Before his visit to Paris, US President Donald Trump condemned Macron’s idea. “Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!”
Later at the meeting in Paris, Macron and Trump agreed on Europe’s need for more defensive measures.