Russia must not be humiliated in Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron has said, to allow an improvement in diplomatic relations between the west and Moscow whenever the war comes to an end.

The French president said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had made a “historic and fundamental” error in invading Ukraine, but that nevertheless a wider escalation in hostilities had to be avoided.

Giving an interview to a group of regional newspapers in his home country, Macron said: “We must not humiliate Russia so that the day the fighting stops, we can build a way out through diplomatic channels.”

The role of France was to be that of “a mediating power”, the president added, saying he had put “time and energy” into ensuring the conflict did not escalate into a wider war, including negotiating with the Russian president.

“I have lost count of the conversations I have had with Vladimir Putin since December,” Macron said. They amounted to 100 hours’ worth, he added, which were “at the request of” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy

Macron has consistently sought to engage directly with Putin and has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the conflict, including on an 80-minute phone call at the end of last month with the Russian leader and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

That has led to periodic accusations that the French leader wants Ukraine to make concessions to secure a peace agreement, although the Élysée Palace says any peace agreement must be negotiated between Putin and Zelenskiy, showing “due respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

None of the discussions, however, appear to have borne fruit. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passed the 100-day mark on Friday, with little sign of the war ending amid heavy fighting in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk.

Macron said he believed Putin had “isolated himself” and did not know what to do next. “Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path,” the French president added.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-must-not-be-humiliated-despite-putins-historic-mistake-macron-2022-06-04/

Mynd44 Lalasticlala Seun

A Judasish statement!

Diplomatically speaking the man made sense. This senseless war will end one day and negotiations will start again

STOP WAR

LordIsaac:
A Judasish statement!

Better to be neutral in this case. The war will end one day and you don't want to be on the wrong side of any of the warring countries

Then tell putin to stop the war. What is the need of the war.

Russia has already been humiliated

Smartest Ukrainian men rushed out of Ukraine with their families within two days of starting the war. It's foolishness to lay claims to fatherland in the eyes of the storm. After the war, the world moves on like nothing happens.

STOP THE WAR!


CAR PAPERS

This is the only thing Putin is relying on at the moment, he wants to use the big boy card to avoid humiliation after he stupidly invaded Ukraine, wasn't he warned not to enter Ukraine.

Putin stop the war now

sanpipita:
This is the only thing Putin is relying on at the moment, he wants to use the big boy card to avoid humiliation after he stupidly invaded Ukraine, wasn't he warned not to enter Ukraine.

Warned by who?
And who’s in command to warn Mighty Russia?
USA and NATO you assumed.
A lion warning the Tiger not eat the gazelle after the lion has feed on lots of those.
I’m really sad for Ukraine,but US have no moral right whatsoever to dish out such warning.

Malory:
Diplomatically speaking the man made sense. This senseless war will end one day and negotiations will start again

Yeah!
Mr Macron is absolutely correct.how to End the war is now so complicated .it is not as easy as everyone thinks.
It will end but how

When Ukraine takes more death the war will end.

Kingsnairaland:
When Ukraine takes more death the war will end.

both sides will take it

leofab:
both sides will take it

There is no war where both sides won’t take casualties. Difference is that while Russia will only take military casualties, Ukraine is taking the following;
Military casualties
Civilian casualties
Infrastructural destruction
Lands/Territorial loses/Balkanization
Economic loses(eastern industrial hub).

So how much of these, will it still take will determine when the war ends.