India, March 6 -- Raising concerns over security threats posed by Russia in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron said he will discuss extending his country's nuclear deterrent to European allies in order to protect the continent.

The announcement comes amid growing tensions between the United States and the European Union after the former's withdrawal of support for Ukraine in the ongoing war.

France is the only nuclear power in the European Union and the second nation in Europe, after the United Kingdom, to possess nuclear weapons, apart from Russia.

Addressing the nation on Wednesday, Macron said that while the European Union can hope to have the United States by their side, they must be prepared if that is not the case. "I want ...