MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - The prospect of extending the protection of France's nuclear capabilities to European allies recently raised by French President Emmanuel Macron could lead to a major tragedy, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said.
"Macron's statement on the need to start discussions on nuclear arms use and on continuing the war is a path toward a large-scale tragedy. Do the French or citizens of other European states need that? No, they certainly don't," Volodin said on his Telegram channel on Friday.
"Macron proposes doing so in order to stay in power, without thinking of what it may lead to," he said.
"The European Union is going through a period of serious turbulence, divergence and choice. It will become clear very soon whether Europe is able to make the right decision, being guided by the interests of people [...]," Volodin said.
Macron said in his address to the French nation on March 5 that he would open debate about extending the protection of France's nuclear arsenals to European allies.