Macron says Europe will not abandon Ukraine, calls continued support a matter of European security

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe would not abandon Ukraine, arguing that continued support for Kyiv was necessary to protect Europe’s own security.

“The message from Europeans is clear: We will not abandon Ukraine and the Ukrainians,” Macron said after an EU summit in Brussels. He described the war as Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression and said Europe had to “stand firm” amid uncertainty over U.S. policy.

Macron also said Europe was working to strengthen Ukraine’s access to satellite imagery and early-warning systems after recent controversy over U.S.-provided intelligence and battlefield communications.

On Russia’s diesel deal with the United States, Macron said the decision was “good for nobody,” arguing that it sent a negative signal, created mistrust and would not effectively lower diesel, gasoline or gas prices.

Macron also accused Russia of preventing Ukrainian grain exports despite what he described as one of Ukraine’s strongest harvests, saying the disruption threatened poorer countries that rely on Ukrainian food supplies.

Responding to Marine Le Pen’s plan to cut French financial aid to Ukraine if elected president, Macron said helping Kyiv was not an act of goodwill but a matter of French and European security. “Surrender is weakness. Weakness is danger,” he said.

He also called for calm at home after recent violence against police officers, defending the right to demonstrate while saying protests must respect people and property.