French President Emmanuel Macron has been the target of criticism for his statement that Paris will not use nuclear weapons if Russia launches a nuclear attack on Ukraine.

During an interview with French television channel France 2, the French president said that Paris obviously would not use nuclear weapons in response to a Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine.

France has a nuclear doctrine that is based on the vital interests of the country and is clearly defined.  It will not be at stake if a nuclear ballistic attack is launched against Ukraine or the region, the French president said.

Afterwards, he was criticized for abandoning vagueness on the subject of nuclear deterrence, Politico wrote.

The reliability of nuclear dissuasion depends on not saying anything about what we have to do, former French President François Hollande said, adding that one should say as little as possible and be prepared to do as much as possible.

Macron's claims, as leader of the EU's only nuclear power, that he would not respond to a nuclear attack in Ukraine or in the region are unlikely to reassure NATO member states such as Poland, Romania or Slovakia. Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that members must stand up to defend other members in the event of an attack.

During an interview on Wednesday, the French president said the less there was discussion of containment, "the better," but then he clarified what would happen in the event of an attack on Ukraine. When asked by a France 2 reporter whether France would refrain from deploying nuclear bombs in response to a Russian nuclear attack in Ukraine, Macron replied "obviously."

The French president has not made any statement about what France's usual response might be if Russia uses nuclear weapons. On Monday, the G7 countries issued a statement warning that Russia would face serious consequences if it did so.