Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to put pressure on Russia about the war in Ukraine “in the eight to ten days” in an interview with Paris-Match “to push Vladimir Putin to a cease-fire”.
“We are going to increase pressure on Russia,” said the President of the Republic, who believes that he “convinced the Americans of the possibility of climbing threats, and potentially sanctions” against Moscow.
“The next fifteen days will be key to trying to implement this cease-fire” wanted by the United States, accepted by Ukraine and defended by Europeans, but to which Russia has not yet subscribed, he insisted.
Vladimir Putin announced on Monday a three -day truce from May 8 to 10. A break in the fights, which coincides with the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany. After this surprise statement, kyiv called on Russia to accept “immediately” a “global” ceasefire for “at least 30 days”.
The Americans in kyiv to work at the ceasefire?
Emmanuel Macron explained to the weekly that he spoke to the American president Donald Trump as of “the night of Wednesday to Thursday to encourage him to adopt a firmer line” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Head of State also returned to the circumstances that made it possible to meet between his American and Ukrainian counterparts, Saturday at the Vatican on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis. According to him, the third seat initially planned for the Trump-Zelensky meeting in the basilica, finally withdrawn, was intended not for him but for the interpreter, but the exchange finally happened in English.
From now on, “the objective is that the Americans can go to kyiv fairly quickly” to manage to establish “the conditions” of a cease-fire and work “to support measures” to preserve it on the Ukrainian side, estimates Emmanuel Macron.
“I consider that we have succeeded, thanks to this interview with the Vatican, to put pressure on Russia. It was the goal, because it was not just that the pressure was exercised only on Ukraine,” he said.
Next week will be marked by two meetings highlighting Emmanuel Macron’s European strategy.
On May 7, he will receive the future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who will make Paris “his first visit” as head of government in Paris. Then on May 9 he will welcome Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Nancy to sign a “friendship treaty”, “which is a historic first between Poland and France”, he announced, not excluding a return to Rome for the appointment of the next Pope.
Original article published on bfmtv.com
