Paris, Feb 26 : French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the Ukraine crisis would drag on and the world must brace for a long haul. Addressing an agricultural fair, Macron, who had been investing a lot of his personal time and efforts towards resolving the Ukraine crisis, is reported to have said on Saturday: “I can tell you one thing this morning it is that this war will last.” “This crisis will last, this war will last and all the crises that come with it will have lasting consequences,” Macron said, and warned “We must be prepared”. “War has returned to Europe, this was chosen unilaterally by President Putin, with a tragic humanitarian situation,” said Macron.
The trade restrictions resulting from EU sanctions on Russia will also affect French exports such as wine and grains, Macron said, while a sharp rise in energy prices is expected to hit livestock farming. Macron said measures would be taken to protect farmers from cost pressures and compensate lost revenues. Macron again called an emergency defence council of top ministers and military security officials to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The war has also broken out ahead of France’s presidential elections in April. Macron, who is expected to seek and win a second term, has left the official declaration of his candidacy to the last minute, although he must make a move next week ahead of a March 4 deadline to register.
