Macron: Neutral countries become Russia's accomplices in the war

The countries that refuse to side with Ukraine in the war against Russia are accomplices of the new Russian imperialism.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this at a session of the UN General Assembly, writes Politico.

"Those who are silent today serve - against their own will or secretly with a certain complicity - the cause of the new imperialism," Macron said.

Macron said Russia's aggression against Ukraine marked a return to the era of imperialism and colonies and that the world was faced with a choice between war and peace.

While Western allies such as France have shown a united front against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, in Africa and Asia the response has been more restrained.

Some countries have been reluctant to condemn Russia too strongly. This trend was reflected in the April vote at the UN, when 58 countries, including India, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia, abstained in the vote for a resolution to expel Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.

The French president acknowledged the sense of injustice felt by countries affected by the effects of the war on food, energy, and their economies. But he also issued a strong warning to those who want to remain neutral.

"I want to make it clear today: those who want to imitate the struggle of non-alignment by refusing to speak out clearly are making a mistake and will bear historical responsibility," he said, referring to the Cold War non-alignment movement.

Author - Olena Madiak, 21/09/2022