Monday’s meeting between Russian and French political leaders is “very important” in easing tensions over Ukraine, the Kremlin said, but no major breakthrough is expected. A spokesperson says that the situation is too complex for that.
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Moscow. The Kremlin expects a “substantive and long” consultation. The spokesman points out that Macron himself has told Putin that he is coming up with ideas to de-escalate the situation. The two have spoken on the phone several times in the past week.
Macron said before his departure to Moscow that he would look for “historical solutions” with Putin. He told the newspaper Le Journal Du Dimanche that the terms of de-escalation are being discussed. According to the French president, it is clear that Russia is looking for new agreements on security with NATO and the European Union, of which France will hold the presidency until July.
Macron’s appointment with Putin is the first in a series of meetings with government leaders about the situation around Ukraine. He will meet with President Volodimir Zelensky in Ukraine on Tuesday. After that, he will travel to Germany for a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Tensions in Eastern Europe have risen over Russian troop build-up on the border with Ukraine. Russia denies any plans for a raid and demands so-called security guarantees to ease tensions, such as the departure of NATO troops from Eastern Europe and a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO. NATO and the US have already said they will not agree to those two demands.
