French President Emmanuel Macron cautions against a Ukraine ‘capitulation’ in US peace efforts, stressing only Ukrainians can decide on territorial concessions.
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against any “capitulation” by Kyiv in the war with Russia, while acknowledging elements of a US peace plan are worth discussing.
In an interview broadcast on Tuesday, Macron stressed that Ukrainians are the “only ones” who can agree to terms set out in the American proposal for ending the conflict.
“We want peace. But not a peace that is in essence a capitulation, which puts Ukraine in an impossible situation, which gives Russia all the freedom to continue to go further, including to other European (countries) and putting everyone’s security in danger,” Macron told RTL radio.
He described the American plan as a step “in the right direction” with “elements” that should be “discussed, negotiated, improved”.
Macron noted that the proposal gives an idea of what might be acceptable to Russia.
“No one can say for the Ukrainians what territorial concessions they are willing to make,” he said, speaking ahead of a video conference with Ukraine’s main European allies to discuss the proposal.
Washington’s initial 28-point plan required Ukraine to cede territory, cut its military and pledge never to join NATO, closely aligning with Russia’s hardline demands.
An updated version aiming to “uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty” was negotiated over the weekend at emergency talks in Geneva.
The plan also proposes using Russian assets frozen in Europe for US-led projects to rebuild Ukraine after the war.
Macron insisted Europeans alone should decide what to do with these funds.
“The Europeans are the only ones to have say” on this issue, he said.
He identified Russia as the “only red line” more than three years after President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion.
“The only question we don’t have an answer to is whether Russia is ready to make a lasting peace,” Macron said.
He questioned whether Moscow would refrain from reinvading Ukraine months or years after any peace agreement.
The diplomatic developments unfolded as Russia launched missile and drone attacks overnight on Kyiv, killing six people.
Ukrainian strikes in Russia’s Rostov region resulted in three fatalities.
