FRENCH PRESIDENT SUPPORTS EU EXPANSION THROUGH INTEGRATION OF UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, AND WESTERN BALKANS

French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced support for the expansion of the European Union through the integration of Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkan countries into the EU. He made this statement on Thursday during a public address at the Sorbonne University.

The president discussed the achievements of the European Union in recent years, noting that "in the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Europe must be united."

“We have begun to rethink our geography in the context of our neighborhood. After Russia's aggression, Europe has started to see itself as a unified entity, affirming that Ukraine and Moldova are part of our European family, and they, along with the Western Balkans, will join the EU when the time comes,” Macron said.

Presenting his vision of “a future strong Europe capable of facing global challenges,” he emphasized that “a necessary condition for our security is that Russia does not win the aggressive war it is waging against Ukraine.”

The French Republic's president called the war in Ukraine the “main threat to European security” and urged to “strengthen European defense capabilities.”

“Europe is mortal and can die, and it depends only on us. We need to build a strategic concept of reliable European defense,” Macron said.