Macron Urges Allies to Intensify Support for Ukraine in Conflict with Russia
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on allies to intensify their support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia, while stressing that France has never taken and never will take a position of crushing Russia on its own soil. Macron spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Friday and urged allies to strengthen their support for Ukraine, allowing it to launch a counter-offensive and “allow credible negotiations determined by Ukraine”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out the prospect of immediate talks with Moscow, saying there is “no trust” between the sides.[0] Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a short meeting with Macron on the sidelines of the Munich Conference and the two exchanged views on regional security matters.[1] Macron further called for massive investments in defense to address the challenges facing the continent, suggesting hosting a conference in Paris on Europe’s air defense and for joint investment in European arms production.[2]
“We must further strengthen our support. Take further steps, increase our efforts to help the Ukrainian people, and Ukraine was able to launch a counter-offensive,” Macron said.[3] He added that France's position had ‘never' been for a ‘total defeat' of Russia, urging the international community to “explain, to make it clear that Russia is a force that spreads instability and chaos, which it does not only in Ukraine, but also in the Caucasus, the Middle East, Africa.”[0]
The leader of the Russian mercenary unit Wagner asserted the capture of a nearby village to Bakhmut, the eastern city that has seen the most extended and violent combat of the war up to this point.[4] Macron also said that “how can we believe that the challenges of the Caucasus can be overcome by the neo-colonial Russia that I described a moment ago?[1] I am saying this in the presence of my friend, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with whom we will continue to stand and act.[1]
0. “Emmanuel Macron says he wants to defeat but not ‘crush' Russia” Daily Mail, 19 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11768599/Emmanuel-Macron-says-wants-defeat-not-crush-Russia.html
1. “France Views Armenia as Buffer to ‘Neo-Colonial Russia' – Asbarez.com” Asbarez Armenian News, 17 Feb. 2023, https://asbarez.com/france-views-armenia-as-buffer-to-neo-colonial-russia/
2. “Germany's Scholz, France's Macron Prepared for the Long Haul in Ukraine” The European Conservative, 19 Feb. 2023, https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/germanys-scholz-frances-macron-prepared-for-the-long-haul-in-ukraine/
3. “Ukrainian counter-offensive key to forcing talks with Russia: Macron” La Prensa Latina, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.laprensalatina.com/ukrainian-counter-offensive-key-to-forcing-talks-with-russia-macron/
4. “European allies vow more support for Kyiv at security meet” The Japan Times, 18 Feb. 2023, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/02/18/world/ukraine-munich-security-conference/
