By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron made additional diplomatic efforts by visiting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to urge a de-escalation to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The Russian president and his counterpart Ukrainian President Zelensky met with Macron two weeks ago in a high-level diplomatic effort to diffuse tensions between the two countries. Macron and Putin spent over five hours in face-to-face talks and then appeared together for a press conference. Macron explained that he and Putin did find what he termed “points of convergence.” The French leader added that it was “up to us to agree, jointly, concrete and specific measures to stabilize the situation and to de-escalate tensions.”
Macron’s comment: “There is still time to preserve peace,” seemed a hopeful note to what has been a very tense situation for the last several months. Putin indicated that “further steps” were possible through diplomatic channels. Putin commented: “A number of his proposals and ideas about which it is too early to speak, I consider quite possible in order to lay a foundation for our further steps.” Putin said both he and Macron would speak again after the French leader’s trip to Kyiv on Tuesday.
Though Putin’s remarks seem hopeful, the Russian leader remained accusatory toward Ukraine claiming that Ukraine is “ignoring all possibilities for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Donbas.” U.S. intelligence estimates indicate Putin has readied 70 percent of the military personnel and weapons needed for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Macron praised Zelensky on his ability to show “self-restraints” while Russian military activity grows increasingly aggressive.
Meanwhile, on Monday German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. as Biden said that Ukraine was the top priority. Biden commented that both leaders “developed a strong package of sanctions that clearly demonstrate international resolve and impose swift and severe consequences if Russia violates Ukraine’s sovereignty.” Biden warned that “it cannot be business as usual if Russia invades.”
