French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Europe’s security future should include guarantees for Russia as well.
“We must think about the security framework we will inhabit tomorrow. We are considering President Vladimir Putin’s assertion that NATO is moving closer to Russia’s borders and deploying weapons that could threaten it”, he stated.
According to the French leader, after any special operations end, Western nations will need to address each side’s security needs in a cooperative way.
“This topic will be part of peace talks, and we must plan for what comes next. We should contemplate how to safeguard our allies while offering Russia guarantees for its security as soon as it returns to the negotiating table”, he noted.
Macron also indicated that the question of Ukraine and its borders remains unresolved. When asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s demand to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula would be legitimate, he replied that Ukraine should decide the conditions, timing, and method of negotiations, with no outside influence.
“The security of the rest of Europe depends on us”, the French leader concluded.
What about France’s stance?
Macron affirmed that Paris would continue backing Kyiv but would not compromise its own armed forces to supply arms for Ukrainian needs.
“We will never weaken our army’s ability to defend our land and our citizens”, he asserted.
He added that France would keep doing its part while ensuring it does not become a party to the conflict by supplying weapons used against Russian soil, stressing adherence to two guiding principles.
The French President also urged citizens not to panic about possible power outages. Earlier, the national grid operator warned of potential outages after the New Year.
“Panicking is unnecessary. It won’t help, and it is unfounded”, Macron said. He emphasized that if everyone adheres to the energy sobriety plan and reduces consumption by ten percent, the winter could be weathered safely, even during very cold months, specifically December and January.
Meeting with Putin
Macron indicated that the next phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, could occur soon.
“Following my discussions with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency about civilian nuclear energy, I intend to speak with President Putin again”, he stated.
“We must persist in supporting Ukraine, prevent further escalation, secure the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, and set up contacts for the day when everyone will finally sit at the negotiating table”, the politician said.
“I would welcome a meeting with Putin”
US President Joe Biden commented yesterday that he is prepared to negotiate with Putin if the Russian leader demonstrates a genuine interest in ending the war in Ukraine. Biden noted that such an intention has not yet been observed publicly.
“I have no plans to contact Mr. Putin in the near future. I will choose my words very carefully: I am ready to talk to Putin if he really wants to find a path to ending the war. He has not done that yet”, Biden said, adding that any dialogue would occur in coordination with NATO.
“I would be glad to sit at the negotiating table with Putin to understand his thinking”, the US President added, expressing the view that Russian officials may have miscalculated in their initial approach to the special operation.