Russia has reacted with contempt to Emmanuel Macron's speech to the French nation, in which he warned that Russia poses a direct threat to France and Europe.
Senior Russian figures, including lawmakers, rejected Macron's statements, calling them fear-mongering and accusing the French president of creating unnecessary tensions.
Konstantin Kosachev, a senior Russian senator, called Macron's statement a profound misinterpretation of Russia's actions, saying Moscow was simply reacting to NATO expansion and not pursuing a policy of aggression.
"Such a faulty analysis leads to fatal mistakes," Kosachev said, adding that the French president was misleading his citizens and allies.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev did not hesitate to mock the French president, calling him "Micron".
Medvedev said Macron will disappear from the political scene in 2027, the year that coincides with the end of his second term as president of France.
"Micron itself does not pose a threat. It will disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027, and it will not be missed."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also hit back at Macron, mocking his assertion that France has the most effective military in Europe, and suggesting that he may want to put that claim to the test.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also responded to President Emmanuel Macron's speech, which warned of Moscow's threat to Europe.
Macron also raised the possibility of expanding France's nuclear umbrella to protect allies in Europe.
In response, Lavrov said Macron's nuclear rhetoric was a threat to Russia.
"If he considers us a threat, calls a meeting of the chiefs of general staff of European countries and Britain, says it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, prepares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is, of course, a threat," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the state news agency RIA.
The Kremlin has already made clear its firm opposition to any peacekeeping presence in Ukraine, following a possible peace deal.
Lavrov has reiterated that Moscow sees no compromise on the issue, adding that it would view a peacekeeping force operating in Ukraine as equivalent to NATO forces operating against Russia.
France and the UK have both said they would be willing to get involved on the ground in Ukraine to help implement a peace deal.
Meanwhile, Kremlin-linked commentators accused Macron of distorting reality.
In his speech delivered on March 8, 2024, Macron called Russia a clear and present threat to Europe and described the war in Ukraine as a "global conflict."
He stressed that Russia has mobilized North Korean soldiers and Iranian equipment to help these states arm themselves and strengthen its influence on the European continent.
Macron also stressed that Russia is violating borders and carrying out destabilizing activities, including digital attacks on hospitals and attempts to manipulate elections in Romania and Moldova. “Russia is trying to manipulate our opinions with lies spread on social networks,” he said.