Macron calls for a quick de-escalation around Ukraine
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The French president believes that there is a space for a “stepped-up dialogue with Russia”.
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French President Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced concern about the situation near the borders of Ukraine, calling for a quick de-escalation, the Elysee Palace said.
Macron took part in a video conference hosted by US President Joe Biden, during which the situation in Ukraine was discussed. Presidents of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council President Charles Michel, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and the leaders of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland all participated in the video conference.
In a statement, the Elysee Palace added that “President Macron expressed his deep concern over the situation on the Ukrainian border and the need to work collectively to de-escalate it quickly. This de-escalation must involve strong, credible warnings to Russia, requiring constant coordination among European partners and allies, as well as a stepped-up dialogue with Russia, which we are in the process of conducting."
It is worth mentioning that Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has announced on Sunday that the country had received a second shipment of weaponry from the US as part of a $200 million defensive military package.
The US Department of State announced earlier that it will continue to provide military support to Ukraine, with fresh supplies anticipated to arrive in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that his country calls on the United States to stop arms supplies to Ukraine, stressing that this is a direct threat to Russia.
The western countries have repeatedly accused Russia of continuing to intensify its army buildup along Ukraine's border and issued new warnings against any "aggression" by Moscow, which Russia repeatedly denied while maintaining its right to defend its security.
