President Putin remarked in 2021, "As for NATO’s enlargement and the advancement of NATO infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, this is a matter of paramount significance as far as the security of Russians and Russia goes...I do not want to use harsh words, but they simply spat upon our interests."<ref>https://tass.com/politics/1300975</ref> French Premier [[Emmanuel Macron]] said at the height of the crisis, "The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU."<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-tensions-frances-macron-flies-to-moscow-to-meet-putin-in-high-risk-diplomatic-mission-12535079</ref> | President Putin remarked in 2021, "As for NATO’s enlargement and the advancement of NATO infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, this is a matter of paramount significance as far as the security of Russians and Russia goes...I do not want to use harsh words, but they simply spat upon our interests."<ref>https://tass.com/politics/1300975</ref> French Premier [[Emmanuel Macron]] said at the height of the crisis, "The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU."<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-tensions-frances-macron-flies-to-moscow-to-meet-putin-in-high-risk-diplomatic-mission-12535079</ref> |