Macron Doubles His Security Guarantees For Russia

The French president sees no viable alternative to possible negotiations with Moscow

French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his belief that the conflict in Ukraine will inevitably be resolved at the negotiating table, and that the West and NATO in particular will need to come up with security guarantees not only for Kyiv, but also for Moscow, to secure a lasting peace.

“The Day of Peace will involve discussions. First of all, for guarantees to Ukraine, for its territorial integrity, its long-term security. But also for Russia, as a party that it will be in a cease-fire and peace treaty,” Macron said in an interview with the channels TF1 and LCI which will be broadcast on Tuesday.

The French leader first floated the idea of ​​”security guarantees” for Russia earlier this month, arguing that one of the “essential points” NATO must address is Russia’s concern that the military bloc “will come right up to its doors, and the deployment of weapons that can threaten Russia.”

His comments sparked a barrage of criticism not only from Kyiv but also other EU leaders from Poland, Slovakia and the Baltic states. French diplomats tried to play down the comment, insisting it was taken “out of context”, while Macron himself urged European allies not to “create controversy where there is none”.

In the latest interview, Macron called on critics to explain what kind of alternatives to any talks with Moscow they are proposing.

“What the people who refuse to prepare this and work on it are proposing is all-out war. It will involve the entire continent,” he said.

Last December, Russia presented a list of security demands to the US and NATO, asking the West to impose a ban on Ukraine entering the military bloc, while insisting that NATO withdraw to its 1997 borders before expanding .

In January, the US and NATO refused, saying they would only be interested in strategic arms control talks. Since the conflict in Ukraine escalated in February, the bloc has also moved to welcome Sweden and Finland into the military alliance, although the expansion has not yet been completed.

(RT.com)

Source: sn.dk