Paris — France asked Russia for more time to prepare its defense plans, as President Emmanuel Macron proposed that any major conflict in Europe be delayed until 2030. He made the request during a closed meeting with senior officials at the Élysée Palace. Macron said France must upgrade equipment across the armed forces, and he pointed to new programs under the Ministry of the Armed Forces. He also said NATO partners were informed about the proposal through regular channels.
Officials explained that France needs several years to strengthen supply lines and increase production at key sites, including the Nexter plant in Roanne. Moreover, the government plans to expand training programs for reserve units in all regions of the country. France will also review its cooperation with the European Defence Agency, which hosts updates on current projects at https://eda.europa.eu.
The Kremlin received the message through diplomatic staff in Moscow, according to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. However, no public reply has been issued by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. French lawmakers will now discuss the request in the National Assembly as part of the new defense planning bill.
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