The Ukrainians are well aware that they do not have the means to retake all the territory held by Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.
“The war must end, and Ukraine must be in the best possible position to enter into negotiations … that will make it possible to address territorial issues,” Macron said in an interview with local media on May 12, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.
He went on to note that “Even Ukrainians themselves have the lucidity to acknowledge … that they will not have the capacity to reclaim everything that has been taken [by Russia] since 2014.”
“We can’t leave Ukraine on its own,” the French president added. “Since it will not be joining NATO, we are proposing reassurance forces. In other words, the allies who are willing … will deploy forces far from the front line, in key locations, to conduct joint operations and demonstrate our solidarity.”
France and the UK have proposed sending peacekeepers to Ukraine following a ceasefire but have provided few details. Russia has warned that any foreign troops stationed in Ukraine without its permission – especially those from NATO countries – would be treated as enemy targets.
The French leader also stated that France did not want to unleash "World War III" over Russia's invasion of Ukraine: "We must help Ukraine defend itself but we do not want to unleash a Third World War. The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations," he added.
Macron announced his readiness to "talk again" with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the fighting in Ukraine ceases.
"I will do this simply in a transparent manner, in close coordination with my European partners," Macron said.
The French president believes that dialogue with Putin is necessary.
By Khagan Isayev
Source: caliber.az
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