Macron in a press conference suggested that a NATO Intervention was not out of the question. This comment was perceived as provocative by the Russian Federation who interpreted Macron's statement as a threat. The European leaders however had a very different opinion from President Macron. Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that no such thing would happen and he was followed by the leaders of Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Macron Speaking at a Conference in Support of Ukraine
This response by the European Leadership and also the Secretary of NATO however has raised questions about the unity of the collective West and its determination in supporting Ukraine. With Biden facing opposition at home in sending aid to Ukraine by the ever growing MAGA movement unity is not just a multilateral issue but a domestic one. All around Europe pro-Russian candidates like Marine Le Pen's National Rally Alice Weide's AfD in polling right behind the incumbent parties, the future of the West as an anti-Russian alliance is questionable. In Hungary Viktor Orban continues to stand against Ukraine while frequently criticizing even the current level of intervention in Ukraine. Overall, the future French and German elections could determine the future of not just NATO but the West as a whole with new leadership being a catalyst of change for the status quo concerning the unified Western alliance against Russia.
In regards to Macron's statement, in classic Putin fashion the Russian President began his response by stating history, more specifically mocking leaders like Napoleon who tried to conquer Russia which ultimately led to their downfall.
Putin Speaking at the Federal Assembly
"We remember the fate of those who once sent their contingents to the territory of our country. But now the consequences for possible interventionists will be much more tragic. They should, after all, understand that we also have weapons — and they know about it, just now I said — there are also weapons that can hit targets on their territory. And that everything they come up with now scares the whole world, that all this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons — and therefore the destruction of civilization. Don't they understand that?"