Lavrov Rebukes Macron, Cites Napoleon and Hitler at Moscow Press Conference
The Russian foreign minister used a year‑end briefing in Moscow to denounce the French leader’s November remarks about Russia’s history.
Overview
- Sergey Lavrov told Emmanuel Macron to remember history and not forget the invasions by Napoleon and Hitler, which he said sought to conquer Russia.
- Lavrov quoted Macron’s November comments after the French president met Volodymyr Zelensky, including the claim that Russia chose war and cannot come to terms with its history.
- He labeled Macron’s statements as rude and said Russia is above such attitudes, describing the remarks as dismissive of Russian history.
- Framing his rebuttal through historical memory, Lavrov argued that Russia’s past is defined by attempts to defeat and dismantle it and that Russians will not renounce that legacy.
- He delivered the critique during a press conference reviewing Russian diplomacy in 2025, reflecting ongoing tensions with France over narratives of the war in Ukraine.