Russia said on Friday that it was essential to engage in a dialogue with the United States on arms control after President Donald Trump made a broad call for the world's nuclear powers to ditch their weapons.

France's president warned of Russia's threat and suggested other European countries could sit under the French nuclear umbrella.

The Kremlin on Thursday condemned what it called a highly confrontational speech by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he called Russia a threat to Europe and said Paris would consider putting other countries under its nuclear protection.

European leaders showed a cautiously receptive ear to President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to debate extending the French nuclear umbrella to Europe on Thursday, though some were reluctant to draw a line under years of U.