20 February, 2023: Emmanuel Macron does not want Russia to be ‘crushed’. Read to know more.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has stated that he does not want to see Russia utterly destroyed by a defeat in Ukraine.
Speaking to French media, Mr. Macron encouraged Western countries to boost military help to Kiev and declared himself ready for a long war. "I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position," he said.
But he pointed the finger at those who, in his words, intended to "crush" Russia by bringing the battle into its own borders. "I do not think, as some people do, that we must aim for a total defeat of Russia, attacking Russia on its own soil," he told the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
The remarks were made while international leaders met at the Munich Security Conference, where it was announced that Russia would face stricter sanctions and that the supply of weaponry to Kiev would be increased.
Speaking at a conference in Munich, Mr. Macron emphasized that now was not the appropriate time for negotiations with Moscow. Yet, he did not hesitate to state that peace discussions were the ultimate objective.
According to the president, only military action by Ukraine, backed by supporters, could "bring Russia back to the table and build a lasting peace."
He also scoffed at the idea of a government transition in Russia, calling similar initiatives worldwide a "complete failure."
Since there is "no trust" between the countries, President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided against holding immediate discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. He also rejected the notion of surrendering territory to reach a peace agreement with Russia in an interview with the BBC.
Some NATO partners have previously criticized Mr. Macron for conveying what they see as conflicting messages towards Ukraine. But Mr. Macron has stated what he believed in.
