“We have always defended direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Kremlin,” declared the head of state. “I think that today it is Ukraine and Russia that can build both a ceasefire and a peace plan.”
The letter sent by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Vladimir Putin published Thursday to offer him a meeting is “a good initiative” French President Emmanuel Macron declared Friday on a visit to Montenegro. “We have always defended direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Kremlin”said Emmanuel Macron, “I think that today it is Ukraine and Russia that can build both a ceasefire and a peace plan. It’s the Europeans who can help.”. The French president also added “that now is the time, given the evolution of the situation”to resume discussions with Russia.
Emmanuel Macron invited to Paris, on the occasion of the national holiday on July 14, the countries contributing to the coalition of the willing set up to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. He also indicated that he would meet with his German counterparts Friedrich Merz and British Keir Starmer with President Zelensky “in a few days”without giving more details. “We are also very keen to structure discussions and exchanges with Russia on what is in our common interests”also declared the French president, who had affirmed in February that the resumption of this dialogue with Moscow was “a train that prepares them”.
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The dialogue with Moscow is being prepared
“My wish is rather to look to the future and say how we can reorganize a dialogue to build a ceasefire and peace.”he declared in Tivat, Montenegro, during a summit between the European Union and the Balkan countries. “We are also very keen to structure discussions and exchanges with Russia on what is in our common interests”also declared the French president, who had affirmed in February that the resumption of this dialogue with Moscow was “a train that prepares them”.
The war in Ukraine is close to stalemate, and kyiv is increasing strikes on Russian depots, oil refineries and pipelines to deprive Moscow of one of its main sources of income. At the same time, Russian forces are no longer making progress in their conquest of the eastern part of Ukraine. Under these conditions, the offer, briefly mentioned by the Americans, “to leave to Russia (…) all of Donbass (eastern Ukraine), it is an offer that has never existed for the Ukrainians nor for the Europeans”et “It’s an offer today that should no longer exist given the reality on the ground.”underlined.
