Wants to meet Putin, Macron is outspoken about NATO, EU, and Ukraine

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron believes Russia is not interested in invading Ukraine. He expressed optimism that as long as the West is ready to make concessions, he can secure a “de-escalation” of tensions around Ukraine.

He will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday (7/2/2022) local time.

“Russia’s geopolitical goal today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of coexistence with NATO and the European Union (EU),” Macron explained in a weekend interview with the weekly Journal du Dimanche before his departure for Moscow.

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Russia has repeatedly called on NATO to stop extending membership eastward to former Soviet territory.

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Moscow continues to cite agreements made at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union which NATO has since repeatedly violated.

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Taking aim at the US refusal to end NATO’s controversial “open door policy”, Macron warned, “We have to be very realistic. We won’t get a unilateral move, but it’s important to avoid deteriorating the situation before building mechanisms and mutual trust.”

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