French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to voice a tougher line on Russia on Wednesday, saying that he hoped Ukraine would win the war, but added that it would still need to negotiate with Russia.
Kyiv
The French president arrived in Romania on Tuesday for a three-day trip to Ukraine’s eastern neighbours including Moldova, amid reports that he would head to Kyiv on Thursday on a visit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Reuters reported.
The symbolic visit would come a day before the European Commission makes a recommendation on Ukraine’s status as an EU candidate. The biggest EU members have been wary about that and are set to discuss at a leaders’ summit on June 23-24.
„We are at a point when we (Europeans) need to send clear political signals, us Europeans, towards Ukraine and its people when it is resisting heroically,” Mr. Macron said in Romania on Wednesday.
Ambivalent backing
The French leader has been criticized by Ukraine and some eastern European allies for what they perceive as his ambivalent backing for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Mr Macron has in recent weeks repeatedly said it was important not to „humiliate” Russia so a diplomatic solution could be found when fighting ended.
However, on Wednesday he said that Ukraine, which he hoped would win the war, would eventually have to negotiate with Russia.
Russia
„We share a continent. Geography is stubborn and at the end of it, Russia is there. It was there yesterday, it’s there today and will be there tomorrow,” he told reporters.
Romania President Klaus Iohannis said support should include offering Ukraine candidate status in the EU.
In my opinion, the candidate status must be granted as soon as possible, it is a correct solution from a moral, economic and security perspective,” Iohannis said, adding that there were efforts to find a feasible solution to differences among European powers.
Tougher line
Mr. Macron appeared to take a tougher line on Tuesday evening during a meeting of French troops.
„We will do everything to stop Russia’s war forces, to help the Ukrainians and their army and continue to negotiate,” he told French and NATO troops at the Mihail Kogalniceanu military base on Romania’s Black Sea coast.
France leads a NATO battle group in Romania of about 800 troops, including 500 French troops and others from the Netherlands and Belgium. It has also deployed a surface-to air missile system.
Moldova
Macron heads to Moldova later Wednesday to support a country many fear could be drawn into the conflict in neighboring Ukraine.
He may then travel to Kyiv on Thursday, with diplomatic sources saying the European leaders may head to Ukraine’s capital.
Emmanuel Macron caută o majoritate în Parlament, pentru al doilea mandat de cinci ani
