French President Emmanuel Macron’s speeches about Russia’s security concerns have attracted attention again. Macron plans to call Putin again.
5.12. 17:44•Updated 5.12. 18:30
BORDEAUX The French president on a state visit to the United States Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Orleans on Saturday and gave an interview there to the French TV channel TF1.
In the interview, he mentioned his intention to call the Russian president in the near future to Vladimir Putin and expressed once again that he also understands Russia’s security concerns. It is not the first time that Macron is more understanding than the general Western line when it comes to Russia.
– We must already prepare for how we can protect our allies and member states, as well as give security guarantees to Russia on the day it returns to the negotiating table, Macron stated in an interview.
It is very likely that the discussions with the President of the United States are also in the background Joe Biden with last week. In his statements, Biden also opened the door to negotiations with Moscow.
– I am prepared to talk with Mr. Putin, if it would help, so that he could decide on ending the war, Biden said.
– So far, he has not done so.
In the background, both of them naturally have a wish for a quick end to the war and the situation after the war. Russia is not going anywhere. While we must not give in to Russia’s violent expansion policy, the country should not be humiliated too much either, as it may backfire in the future.
At least officially, the topic of Macron’s upcoming phone call will be nuclear power plant safety, as (according to preliminary information) Macron had a telephone conversation with the Secretary General of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA on Sunday by Rafael Rossi with. The goal is to create a peaceful area around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
When Macron and Putin last talked in September, nuclear safety was also a topic.
However, this phone call would also be interesting from the point of view of the big picture of the war, especially since according to recent US intelligence information, Putin is more aware of the state of his army and the real situation of the war than before.
During the previous call, Macron condemned Élysée Palace bulletin (you will switch to another service) according to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, hoped they would end as quickly as possible and called for negotiations so that “Ukraine’s sovereignty and all land areas could be restored”.
Before calling Putin, Macron will probably talk to the Ukrainian president first to Volodymyr Zelensky with.
There is also an internal political message in the background
In his interview on the same Saturday, Macron also attacked the National Coalition party quite strongly Marine Le Pen against.
Le Pen has repeatedly proposed easing sanctions against Russia and reducing military supplies.
– Mrs. Le Pen is a friend of Russia and an opponent of NATO, Macron said.
He also stated that if Le Pen were now president, France would be alone in international politics and Ukraine would have less chance of winning.
In addition to civilian aid, France has sent to Ukraine, among other things, 18 truck-mounted Caesar howitzers with a range of 40 kilometers. Six more are to be handed over in the near future, and the delivery of anti-aircraft systems is being prepared.
In addition to right-wing populists, there has traditionally been a very pro-Soviet and pro-Russian left in France, who think that contact with Putin is appropriate.
It is also worth remembering that Macron has felt his role as a mediator to be important in the past as well. When the former President of the United States Donald Trump criticized NATO’s European partners and distanced himself from Europe, Macron tried to mediate even then.
As in the case of Trump, even now the communication will produce rather meager results.