French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hit back at Russia, after the Kremlin warned him not to threaten it with nuclear rhetoric and drew comparisons with Napoleon's failed conquest of Russia.

The Kremlin on Thursday condemned what it called a highly confrontational speech by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he called Russia a threat to Europe and said Paris would consider putting other countries under its nuclear protection.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, reacted to the speech of French President Emmanuel Macron, who called Russia a threat to Europe.View on euronews

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Wednesday laying out the challenges facing France and Europe in the wake of the United States’ changing position on Ukraine under President Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation on Wednesday evening to try and soothe voters' concerns over the new U.S. administration's upending of the international order. European countries are scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.