"The proliferation of nuclear weapons on the European continent is something that will not add security, predictability, or stability to the European continent," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The French president floated the idea during a TV appearance on Tuesday, comparing it to the United States's nuclear umbrella policy that guarantees Washington would reciprocate if its allies come under nuclear attack.

"The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey," Macron told TF1 television.

"We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come."

France is the EU's only nuclear-armed nation.

Amid Russia's offensive on Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's calls on Europe to take more of the burden for its own defence, discussion is growing over extending Paris's nuclear deterrent to the rest of the 27-member bloc.

Russia, the world's biggest nuclear power, possesses about 4,000 warheads and views France's nuclear deterrence as a potential threat to its national security.

"At present, the entire system of strategic stability and security is in a deplorable state for obvious reasons," Peskov added.

Amid his offensive on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has several times threatened nuclear escalation, drawing rebukes from the West over "reckless" rhetoric.

bur /yad