Thread by @ACatInParis

#Macron speaking live now on French Tv - watch live on @FRANCE24 of course - I'll post some bits here.

Macron:
-Offers "brotherly support" to President Zelenskyy
-says" we did everything" to avoid this war
-Putin "acted alone and deliberately to choose war"
1/

#Macron:
-"Russia is not attacked it is the attacker"
-Putin's claims of "denazification" are an insult to history
-war is based on a "revisionist" view of history
#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine 2/

#Macron speech now:

-Moscow is "breaking international law"
-UN vote today was "crushing"
-we will continue to work across all continents to condemn the invasion, demand a ceasefire
-we have taken "proportionate" sanctions 3/

#Macron speech now:

-on the ground we have protected our fellow French people, helping them to leave Ukraine ASAP
-thanks journalists "who cover the conflict with courage"
-we've worked to protect the sovereignty and security of our European allies by reinforcing NATO allies 5/

#Macron speech now:

-we are not at war with Russia/ Russian people
-hails Russian people who are protesting against the invasion in Russia
-"I will stay in contact with President Putin"
-says wants to work to avoid contagion elsewhere in Europe
6/

#Macron speech now:

-"millions of Ukrainians will be received in Europe", "France will take in its share"
-"we will take care of those who come to our land to be protected"
#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #F24 7/

#Macron speech now:

-states that France's economy, industries, cost of living WILL be impacted by the war / sanctions
-"my guiding line will be to protect you" (France)
- will announce measures to respond to these "difficulties"
#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #F24 8/

#Macron speech now:
"war in Europe no longer belongs to the history books, it's here, before our eyes"
"we must respond with historic measures"
-says will announce new investments in defence, industry
-"Europe has to invest so it will depend less on other powers, continents" 9/

#Macron speech now:

-talks about need to depend less on Russian gas + energy, says will push for energy transition towards other energy sources

-"European defence must go into a new phase"
-Europe has show unity and determination, it's entered a new era, we must continue
10/

#Macron speech wraps:
- I know I can count on you, your attachment to liberty, equality, brotherhood (liberté, égalité, fraternité - France's national motto)

Solemn tone from the French president.
Very Europe-focussed, sans surprise as he's holding rotating EU presidency
ENDS