General Fabien Mandon has asked mayors in France to prepare voters for a possible war with Russia, provoking negative reactions from political parties.

At an annual meeting of mayors in France, General Fabien Mandon, the new head of the General Staff, urged local officials to prepare citizens for the eventuality of a war with Russia, emphasizing the need to accept suffering to protect national identity. Mandon stated that France has the necessary resources to deter Moscow, but warned that, without preparation, the country could be in danger.

Reactions from both left-wing and right-wing parties were swift, condemning his call and highlighting the lack of consensus regarding the Russian threat. Leaders of these parties criticized the idea of anticipating sacrifices due to diplomatic failures and questioned Mandon's legitimacy to make such statements. In the context of current tensions, Mandon emphasized the need for the French armed forces to be prepared for a potential conflict in the coming years.