'Ogre at our gates': Macron warns allies against trusting Putin; calls him 'predator' at Europe's doorstep

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday issued a stark warning to European allies about Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging caution in dealing with Moscow and describing him as “an ogre at our gates.”

The remarks came after fast-moving talks on Monday between US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders, which focused on long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.

Macron cautioned that Russia should not be expected to quickly embrace peace or democracy. “Putin has rarely honoured his commitments,” he told LCI broadcaster, as quoted by AFP. “He has constantly been a force for destabilisation. He has sought to redraw borders to increase his power.”

Explaining the nature of the threat, Macron added, “Putin, including for his own survival, needs to keep eating. That means he is a predator, an ogre at our gates.”

While stressing the danger, Macron clarified that the threat did not imply an immediate attack on France. “This does not mean France would come under attack tomorrow,” he said, “but of course this is a threat to Europe (...) let's not be naive.”