French President Macron’s ambiguous statement on putting western boots on the ground in Ukraine to fight Russia has earned the scorn of several allies of Putin. The Chairman of the State Duma made an analogy to Napoleon Bonaparte's Grande Armee whose 1812 invasion of Russia ended in death and defeat. Another Putin ally and Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, also echoed Volodin’s Napoleon comparison. Russian President Putin also made a nuclear threat to NATO countries if they send troops to Ukraine. Putin added that Russia must strengthen its western military district after Finland and Sweden's admission to the Atlantic alliance.