French President Emmanuel Macron has no plans to engage with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the coming days.
“This is not a matter of days; we are preparing everything. I think that first of all, we need to work on ourselves, on what we want to ask for,” Macron stated while discussing the possibility of negotiations with Putin.
He emphasized that Europe seeks security guarantees for Ukraine and certain assurances for Europeans, touching on issues of prosperity, the future of Europe, and security architecture.
Earlier, Macron had suggested to European leaders that they should resume direct discussions with Russia, believing that the war has entered its “final stage.” He argued that Europe should independently negotiate the security framework and Ukraine’s future within the EU, without delegating these matters to the U.S. or other third parties.
Macron noted that France has already reinstated communication channels at a technical level by sending diplomatic advisors. He stressed the importance of such dialogue for Europe’s self-respect, given that Russia will remain a geographical neighbor regardless of the current sentiments.
However, he acknowledged that for some of his colleagues, this initiative might be premature.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte responded by saying he would welcome any initiative that could help end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
President Macron has no immediate plans to speak with Putin, emphasizing the need for European security and independent negotiations regarding Ukraine.