PARIS, March 15. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron views Russia as a rival, and will refer to it as ‘enemy’ only if European countries become embroiled in the conflict.

"At this point Russia is, undoubtedly, a rival," Macron said in an interview to TF1 and France 2. When asked to specify the difference between a rival and an enemy, the president replied that his country was "not in a state of war with Russia."

After being asked several times to specify when exactly Russia will be perceived as an enemy, Macron responded that this will happen if "Russia goes in for a new escalation that will embroil" everyone in the conflict.

"I strongly hope that this will not happen," he added.