"This war is a triple failure for Russia: military, economic, and strategic," Macron wrote on X.
He emphasized that for four bloody years, Russia has waged a war of annihilation, butchering international law, trampling state sovereignty, and showing utter contempt for human life. The French leader noted that Russian strikes have systematically reduced cities, schools, hospitals, and energy grids to rubble, resulting in thousands of slaughtered civilians, mass atrocities, and the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
An empire bleeding out
Despite the unimaginable devastation and suffering, Ukraine's resistance remains unbreakable. Meanwhile, Russia has bled so heavily that it has been forced to scour Africa for mercenaries to feed its meat assaults.
"It [the war] has strengthened NATO, whose expansion Russia wanted to avoid, united Europeans, whom it sought to weaken, and exposed the fragility of imperialism from another era," Macron added.
France and Europe stand resolute, continuing to pump weapons, ammunition, and financial aid into Ukraine while training its defenders. Macron warned that allies will relentlessly squeeze Russia's war machine through crippling sanctions and crackdowns on its illicit shadow fleet, ensuring European security interests dictate any future peace guarantees.
"To those who think they can count on our fatigue: they are wrong. We are and will remain shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine," French president added.
As Macron spoke, the 'Coalition of the Willing' convened an online summit to mark the grim Feb. 24 anniversary, co-chaired by Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This follows a pivotal Jan. 6 meeting in Paris, where Ukraine, France, and the UK signed a declaration of intent to deploy a multinational peacekeeping force to Ukraine once the bloodshed ends. Macron said on Jan. 7 that Paris is prepared to deploy "several thousand" troops for this mission. Meanwhile, UK Defense Secretary John Healey declined on Jan. 8 to specify the exact number of soldiers London might send into the postwar theater.