War in Ukraine: Francois Hollande calls “not to tell Putin anything about our intentions”

This moment was supposed to be solemn. Emmanuel Macron received his two predecessors in succession early Wednesday evening at the Elysee Palace to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Within an hour he was able to talk to each of them.

At the end of the interview, François Hollande, who went first, recounted a conversation he had with the man who was his economy minister in front of journalists gathered in the main courtyard. “There must be the broadest consensus in support of Ukraine, at the French level and at the European level. This is what might make Putin think,” he began.

As Paris has been calling for weeks: “We must all do better. The Germans (must) act faster to fulfill their obligations. (…) And in a broader sense, for Europeans, (we should) not just get rid of equipment that is not necessarily the most efficient,” said the former socialist president. In his opinion, the assistance that Western countries can provide to Ukraine is measured not only in quantity, but also in quality.

“The less we talk, the better we act”

François Hollande particularly returned to Emmanuel Macron’s comments at the end of February. The head of state considered that one should not “rule out” sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future in order to make it clear to Vladimir Putin that everything will be done to ensure that he loses this war. “The only possible answer is to show that we are in complete solidarity with Ukraine (…), of course, without participating in any hostilities ourselves,” responded the former president of the republic.

“When it comes to military issues, the less we talk, the better we act,” said Francois Hollande after an interview with the head of state. For him it is necessary “not to say what we do, but to do what we did not say. This is what allows us to act as effectively as possible and not let Putin know about our intentions,” he insisted.

This Thursday, Emmanuel Macron continues consultations on this issue, as he receives the leaders of political parties in the morning. He is due to present to them behind closed doors the results of an international conference on increasing military support for Ukraine, organized last week in Paris. “I think this will clarify” the position, the head of state commented during a trip to Prague on Tuesday.

The French strategy will then be the subject of debate, followed by a parliamentary vote next Tuesday in the National Assembly and then on Wednesday in the Senate.