Macron calls Putin ‘predator’ and ‘ogre at our gates’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) warned European allies to not belief Russian President Vladimir Putin whom he referred to as “an ogre at our gates”.

Mr. Macron’s remarks got here as Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky appeared set for a peace summit after fast-moving talks Monday between Donald Trump and European leaders that centered on the important thing situation of long-term safety ensures for Kyiv.

“Putin has rarely honoured his commitments,” Mr. Macron advised the LCI broadcaster. “He has constantly been a force for destabilisation. He has sought to redraw borders to increase his power.”

Mr. Macron stated he didn’t consider that Russia would “return to peace and a democratic system from one day to the next”.

Mr. Putin, “including for his own survival, needs to keep eating”, Mr. Macron stated. “That means he is a predator, an ogre at our gates.”

This didn’t imply that France would “come under attack tomorrow”, Mr. Macron stated, “but of course this is a threat to Europe (…) let’s not be naive.”