“French President Emmanuel Macron said on February 3 that preparations for his conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin continue at the technical level.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Macron. Photo: getty images Source: “European Truth” with reference to the AFP agency
Details: Macron said last year that he believed Europe should resume direct contact with Putin, rather than leaving the US to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine on its own.
Advertising:
“Preparations are ongoing and discussions are taking place at a technical level,” Macron said on Tuesday, answering questions during a visit to northeastern France.
He noted that preparations for the resumption of dialogue with Putin are “transparent” and in agreement with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, and European allies.
He added that France continues to support Ukraine, but for negotiations on security guarantees after the war, contact with the Kremlin is necessary.
“In this context, it is important that Europeans restore their own channels of discussion,” he said.
At the same time, Macron did not specify the specific terms of communication with the Russian leader.
He added that he does not see Russia’s willingness to conclude a peace agreement in the coming days or weeks.
“We continue to support Ukraine, which is subjected to bombings, cold weather, attacks on the civilian population and energy infrastructure of Ukraine by the Russians, which is intolerable and does not indicate a real readiness for peace negotiations,” the French president said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro previously stated that Europe does not abandon direct contacts with Russia due to the need to defend its interests in negotiations.
In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement about plans to talk to Vladimir Putin a publicity stunt.