Presidents of France and Russia Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin held telephone conversations to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The conversation of the presidents lasted an hour and 45 minutes.
According to the press service of the Elysee Palace, following the conversation, Macron and Putin agreed to intensify diplomatic work – its ultimate goal should be a summit to determine the new architecture of peace and security in Europe.
The presidents also agreed to resume work in the Normandy format, Macron’s press service reports.
At the same time, the official statement on the Kremlin’s website only says that the parties agreed “to continue contact at various levels.” The press service of Putin notes that during the conversation, the president said that the reason for the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass was “provocations of the Ukrainian security forces” and accused Kiev of imitating the negotiation process.
Immediately after the conversation with Putin, Macron spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During this conversation, the presidents supported the need to convene a trilateral contact group and immediately introduce a regime of silence in the Donbass.
(C)MEDUZA 2022
Any talk about Ukraine must include Ukraine.
Macron will probably be cooking up something on the lines of the Mark Galeotti formula.
Yeah. I wasn’t impressed with his solutions, apart from arming Ukraine to defend itself, the rest was all about Ukrainian concessions to Russia. I know Ukraine won’t get Crimea back unless they do it by force, which is not on the cards at all, but to make concessions over Donbas, and no mention of Ukraine controlling the border is ridiculous.
Agreed.
Because of the hostility of the EU and the intransigence of the Budapest signatories, I fear that Ukraine will be pressured into signing up to something pretty shitty.
Peace is crucial. Ukraine must hold out long enough for a US president with courage and determination.
Or a Russian president who is not a murderous, thieving, savage psychopath.
Macron has no authority representing anything concerning Ukraine, the only reason Putler talks to him because he knows he is willing to fuck Ukraine to appease Russia.
There is an alarming report in the Mail claiming that putler has given the order.
I hope against hope that this report is wrong :-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10532343/British-expats-vow-fight-like-devils-Russian-armoured-tanks-painted-letter-Z.html
I have read that in quite a few media sites. I believe it’s just the usual scaremongering and guesswork. If Putler was going to invade, he certainly wouldn’t let it out, it would be a case of him saying go.
Still time to surrender Crimea and give autonomy to Donbas by Zelensky. If he thinks doing it while the invasion is already underway, he may fail miserably. I of course hope that i’m wrong.
I don’t agree with Ukraine making these concessions, but if it means going down that route, recognise Crimea in exchange for control of the border in Donbas. Take it or leave it, anyone with Russian passports can either go to Russia, or rip their passports up if they want to stay in Ukraine. It’s a solution, but not one I would endorse, mainly because Russia are rewarded by getting sanctions lifted, and you couldn’t trust the bastards.
I think after surrendering Crimea, Ukraine should become something like a combo of Norway and Sweden. Integrated into the european economic zone as non-Nato member. Ukraine can impossibly end its shift to the West, there’s simply no support for that in Ukraine. I hope Putin understands this.