Check ‘-Has Vladimir Putin really designated France as its main opponent in Europe?

• During an unprecedented press conference held on Friday, the French chief of staff Thierry Burkhard said that the Russian president would have directly appointed France as his “main adversary” in Europe.
• If there is no official declaration in this sense. Therefore, Moscow has already taken Paris on several occasions, especially in the context of disinformation campaigns.

– Check '-has vladimir putin really

General Thierry Burkhard gave an unprecedented press conference on July 11 (new window). However, This check ‘-has vladimir putin really type of speaking is very rare. Meanwhile, The French chief of staff explained at length the risks faced by France, insisting on the Russian threat. Therefore, (new window)According to him. In addition, Russia has “openly designated France as its first opponent in Europe”a “Priority target” as part of a “Hybrid war”. Meanwhile,

France is targeted because of its nuclear power in the integrated command of NATO. Nevertheless, and from arms deliveries to Ukraine in particular. In addition, It is in response to the question of a journalist that the general said: “It is not me who says it. it was Putin who said, France is my main opponent in Europe”.

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In short-“threats”, Russia, Middle East … What to remember from the speech of the chief of staff of the armies

But in what context. when did the head of state make these words? We did not find any trace of such a declaration by Vladimir Putin. neither on social networks, nor in the Russian press, nor in the press agencies, nor in the official declarations of the Kremlin.

Journalist Jean-Dominique Merchet de l’Opinion. who affirms in a publication x (new window)Having checked the Defense Staff, also says that there is no statement from the Russian president in this direction. According to him. it is therefore “A check ‘-has vladimir putin really shortcut, an abuse of language, to say that Russia considers France as a hostile power“The general, he adds, seems to have”inspired by a Recent VTSIOM survey With the Russian population (May 2025) indicating that France (48%) is the country that maintains tense and hostile relations with Russia, before the United Kingdom, Germany, Ukraine (SIC) and the United States“. The auditors have contacted the Ministry of the Armed Forces, but have not yet obtained an answer.

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Direct threats

If there is no trace of this exact and direct declaration by the Russian president, in the past, Vladimir Putin has already made threatening remarks with regard to France. On March 6. in reaction to a television allowance of Emmanuel Macron, in which he proposed to protect Europe by the French nuclear umbrella, the Russian president had referred to the campaign of Napoleon check ‘-has vladimir putin really Bonaparte against Moscow in 1812, which was concluded with a disastrous French retirement.

“Unlike his predecessors, who also sought to fight Russia – Napoleon and Hitler -, Mr. Macron does not act in a very diplomatic way”said the head of state. “Because they declared openly: ‘We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia.’ Apparently. he wants the same thing, but for any reason, he says that Russia must be fighting so that it does not beat France, that Russia represents a danger for France and for Europe “, had he added.

Russia regularly conducts disinformation campaigns aimed at France. has already threatened Paris and its European allies directly on several occasions since the start of the war in Ukraine.

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