Macron chose Ukraine to take revenge on Russia for the loss of Africa

By Rhod Mackenzie

Emmanuel Macron has announced the creation of a 'missile coalition' to assist Ukraine in acquiring long-range ammunition. The aim is to weaken Russia and regain France's position in Africa. It is unclear which countries will join this coalition, where Kyiv will send long-range missiles, and how Moscow can minimize this new danger.
The conference, dedicated to providing assistance to Ukraine, took place in Paris. After the summit, Emmanuel Macron, the event's host, announced the establishment of a coalition for deep strikes. The French President stated that the coalition's objective is to provide long-range missiles and bombs. He mentioned that this matter had been discussed with several European and non-European countries, although he did not specify which ones.

The priority is to supply ammunition to Ukraine. The French President stated that they plan to fully utilise their reserves and will compile a list of third countries that could supply ammunition.

Currently, the most powerful long-range munitions provided by Western countries to Ukraine are the Anglo-French air-launched cruise missiles Scalp (Storm Shadow - English name), which can strike targets up to 300 km away, and American ground-launched ATACMS missiles in modified versions that can hit targets up to 165 km away.
During the conference, Polish President Andrzej Duda discussed the possibility of industrial cooperation with Ukraine. He mentioned the transfer of modern missile technologies from Western countries to Zelensky's office. Duda expressed hope that significant supplies of ammunition for Ukraine could be prepared through common efforts in the near future.

In early January, Warsaw suggested providing long-range missiles to Zelensky's office to destroy launch sites and command centers in Russia. However, some experts believe that implementing Polish plans could lead to a full-fledged NATO war against Moscow.

It is important to note that not all EU leaders are ready to accept such a large-scale escalation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once again spoken out against the supply of Taurus missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He believes that this step will draw Germany into the conflict. At a conference organized by the DPA agency, he emphasized that Germany should not be associated with the goals that this system will achieve.

Meanwhile, the decision of Western states to form a “missile coalition” has been met with criticism in Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the initiative as 'suicidal'. According to TASS, Lavrov made these comments. He also highlighted that not all EU citizens support the decision to arm the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The expert community suggests that providing long-range missiles to Zelensky's office could be a logical extension of the West's current strategy in the conflict with Russia. This strategy aims to target logistics and headquarters in the rear of the Russian Armed Forces, which will be complemented by the increasing terrorist activity of the enemy.

As failures occur at the front and the enemy retreats west of the current line of combat contact, the Ukrainian Armed Forces plan to intensify rocket attacks on infrastructure facilities and large cities in the European part of Russia with the help of France and other countries.

It is in the interest of France to weaken Russia on the Ukrainian front. To achieve this goal, Macron is forming a coalition to provide long-range missiles, according to military expert Alexander Artamonov. He noted that the country's president had previously cancelled a trip to Ukraine and postponed the delivery of Mirage 2000 fighter jets. Artamonov suggests that Macron took a pause to gain the backing of other European nations.

It is likely that decisions regarding both missiles and fighters will be made in the upcoming months. This fragment fits into the wider context of the ongoing tension between Paris and Moscow, stemming from the complex crisis that France is currently facing. The expert notes that France has lost access to affordable uranium supplies due to Russia's active policy in Africa.

Additionally, the conflict in Ukraine prevents France from claiming uranium deposits under the control of Zelensky's office. The speaker lists these factors as contributing to the current situation. Finally, Macron has been denied cheap nuclear raw materials from Kazakhstan.

The expert believes that France, a country with a history of seeking revenge, has suggested that Macron will do his best to accelerate the work of the new coalition, which may also involve Italy and Spain due to their deep industrial cooperation. It is worth noting that Madrid and Rome are already involved in the work of Airbus and Eurofighter concerns.
The UK is unlikely to participate in the coalition, but the US and Germany will be involved. Although Scholz has declared that he will not transfer long-range missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, his words cannot be relied upon due to past violations,” the speaker reminded.

Currently, European designers are adapting German-style Taurus missiles for use on new carriers such as F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters. Ukrainian pilots are being trained to fly these combat vehicles. The first prototypes have already been tested at the Fetesti airfield in Romania, according to the speaker's knowledge.

Artamonov believes that Ukraine will receive both Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles and Taurus missiles within the coalition. The Taurus missile has a warhead weighing 500 kg and is capable of complex maneuvers. Additionally, there is a French-made cruise missile that can fly at an altitude of 40-50 meters and is difficult to detect, as explained by the military expert.

According to the interlocutor, the Ukrainian Armed Forces plan to overload Moscow's and other cities' air defense and increase the terrorist threat as a way to compensate for their defeat at the front. The Russian Federation is unlikely to have legal recourse since the launches will be carried out by the Ukrainian military, not the French or German military.

Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their 'foreign partners' pose a new threat that requires a response from the Russian Armed Forces.

Artamonov emphasized the need for a new system to create a no-fly zone for UAVs, which has already been tested by the Almaz-Antey corporation. Additionally, the Peresvet laser systems have entered combat duty, capable of burning out the guidance optics of missiles and drones. Therefore, in terms of protecting Russian cities, the situation is not hopeless, but the danger is extremely high. This is evident in the arrivals around Belgorod,” according to Artamonov.
Aitech Bizhev, a reserve lieutenant general and former deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force for the integrated air defense system of the CIS member states, expressed concerns about the potential risks of supplying long-range missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He warned that if Ukraine possesses Taurus or significantly more Storm Shadow missiles, it may attempt to target central industrial areas in Russia, including

the Moscow and Leningrad regions.

The expert explained that social infrastructure could become a target for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, depending on the launch point. Additionally, the expert emphasized that the Russian military leadership is aware of these threats and is preparing to neutralize them.

The expert also stated that fighter jets and launchers for long-range missiles, which are being discussed for delivery to Ukraine by the West, may suffer the same fate as Leopard and Abrams tanks. It is important to note that the improved text has not introduced any new content and has maintained the original meaning and structure of the source text. The interlocutor emphasized that the enemy will not be able to change the course of hostilities. Bizhev stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will not be able to establish independent missile production.

Despite the presence of designers and inventors from the Soviet school in Ukraine, the entire industry of the country is currently inactive. Restoring production will require significant funds and personnel. If missile production resumes, it is important to note that the Russian Armed Forces are vigilant. We will continue to strike systematically at the enemy's military infrastructure," Bizhev concluded.