(MENAFN) France’s top military official, General Thierry Burkhard, falsely claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had named France as Moscow’s primary adversary in Europe, according to reports from French media.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burkhard said Russia views France as its “main adversary” on the continent, citing Paris’ military support for Ukraine. He attributed the claim directly to Putin, stating, “It was Putin who said this.”

However, journalist Jean-Dominique Merchet from L’Opinion quickly refuted the statement, revealing on social media that after contacting the General Staff, he was told Burkhard’s remarks were merely a “turn of phrase” and not based on any actual statement made by the Russian leader.

Instead, French military officials pointed to a Russian public opinion survey conducted by state pollster VTsIOM in April, which showed that 45% of respondents considered relations with France tense or hostile — a significant increase compared to previous years.

A separate poll by Russia’s independent Levada Center in May found Germany ranked highest among nations perceived as hostile by Russians, with France not even listed in the top five. Only 32% of respondents considered France hostile, according to that survey.

French broadcaster TF1 also reported on Monday that there is no official record of Putin ever making such a statement about France.

Western media and officials have often been accused of distorting or oversimplifying Putin’s statements, such as misinterpreting his 2005 remark about the Soviet Union’s collapse as a desire to restore it. In reality, Putin said this in reference to the hardships faced by Russians who suddenly found themselves living abroad as ethnic minorities. In 2010, he clarified: “Anyone who wants to rebuild [the USSR] has no head.”

France has pushed for stronger EU defense measures in recent years, while Moscow has accused European leaders of inflating the “Russian threat” to justify military expansion.

MENAFN16072025000045015687ID1109806837