Emmanuel Macron added that “the Ukraine is the only country that can make decisions about its territory”, refusing to “teach lessons” to this country, a country plagued by a corruption scandal that involved its Government, declaring that “the real dictatorship” resides in Russia, and not in Kiev.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this Monday that a peace plan can only be “finalized” with Ukraine and Europeans “sitting at the table”.
A peace plan between Russia and Ukraine can only be finalized with Kiev and the Europeans “sitting at the table”, declared Emmanuel Macron today, during a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Paris.
“There is, strictly speaking, no plan finalized today on territorial issues. It can only be finalized by President Zelensky,” said Macron, adding that “American mediators will travel to Moscow in the next few hours.”
“On the issues of frozen assets, security guarantees, membership of the European Union and European sanctions, (this plan) can only be finalized with the Europeans sitting at the table. Therefore, we are still in a preliminary phase”, he said.
And he added that “the Ukraine is the only country that can make decisions about its territory”, refusing to “teach lessons” to this country, a country plagued by a corruption scandal that involved its Government, declaring that “the real dictatorship” resides in Russia, and not in Kiev.
Zelensky is facing a major corruption scandal in his country, which forced the dismissal of his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
“We are very vigilant”, declared the French President to journalists, adding: “As we are providing resources, as we are supporting the war effort, it is normal that we have high expectations”.
“But I note that, in any case, the fight against corruption is working, given that transparent and political decisions are being taken,” he added. “Is it up to us to teach Ukraine lessons? Not exactly. We ourselves have had similar scandals,” he continued.
He then added: “You never see this type of decision being taken by the Russian side, because that is where the real dictatorship is.” “There will never be corruption problems in Russia” and “this is what should be very worrying, because there is no independent body in Moscow that deals with these issues”, stated the French President, offering his strong “support” and “friendship” to his Ukrainian counterpart.
After meeting in Paris with Zelensky, the French head of state accused Russia of “not showing any sign of wanting peace”which, he said, “is sought after by Americans, Ukrainians and Europeans.”
Zelensky, who is expected in Ireland on Tuesday, according to the AFP agency, said that nothing should allow Russia to consider its invasion of Ukraine as a reward, in the midst of ongoing negotiations on a United States plan to end the conflict.
“To guarantee genuine security, we must also ensure that Russia itself does not receive anything that it could consider a reward for this war,” said the Ukrainian leader, at the press conference with Macron.
“We are seeing an increase in missile and drone attacks”
The Ukrainian President said he wanted to talk to Donald Trump about the “key issues” of the United States’ plan to end the war with Russia, describing them as “quite difficult”.
“We expect a conversation with the President of the United States on the key issues, which are quite difficult,” Zelensky told reporters, specifically mentioning the issue of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
Zelensky further accused Russia of intensifying attacks to “break the Ukrainians.”
“We are seeing an increase in missile and drone attacks. This represents intense pressure, not only psychological but also physical, on our population, simply to break the Ukrainians,” he declared, recalling that residential areas and infrastructure are daily targets of Russian attacks.
with the United States special envoy for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, according to sources at the Elysee Palace.
In addition to Witkoff, who travels to Moscow today, Macron and Zelensky also spoke with the Ukrainian chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, eight European leaders, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission and the secretary general of NATO, the sources added.
