Macron does not want a world war, and NATO will not discuss how to respond if Moscow uses nuclear weapons

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that his country does not want a world war, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he would not discuss how to respond if Russia used nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

The French president said that his country does not want a world war to break out, calling on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to stop the war and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

And he added - in a tweet on Twitter - "We are helping Ukraine to resist on its soil, not to attack Russia at all. (President) Vladimir Putin must stop this war and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Since last February 24, Russia has launched a military attack on its neighbor Ukraine, which prompted the capitals - led by Washington - to impose severe economic sanctions on Moscow and to supply Ukraine with huge quantities of weapons.

Serious consequences

For his part, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said Thursday that the circumstances in which the alliance might have to use nuclear weapons are "extremely remote", adding that there would be "serious consequences" if Russia used such weapons.

"There will be serious consequences if Russia uses nuclear weapons, any kind of nuclear weapons against Ukraine," Stoltenberg said at a press conference at a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

"We will not go into how we will respond, but that will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. It will mean that a very important dividing line has been crossed."

He pointed out that the primary purpose of NATO's nuclear deterrence is to maintain peace and prevent encroachment on allied countries in it, and therefore the circumstances and circumstances that drive it to the possibility of using nuclear weapons are "very remote."

Stoltenberg said the alliance continues to support Ukraine by providing advanced artillery, air defense and armored systems.

He considered that Putin responded to his failure in the battle with "illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions, partial mobilization and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."