• New York
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science
Friday, March 24, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
NYC Daily Post
  • New York
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science
No Result
View All Result
  • New York
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science
No Result
View All Result
NYC Daily Post
No Result
View All Result
Home World

Macron meets with Putin in Moscow as Europe attempts to defuse Ukraine crisis

by Olga Steckel
February 10, 2022
in World
Reading Time: 3min read
0
Macron meets with Putin in Moscow as Europe attempts to defuse Ukraine crisis
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May 2017 | Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images

Amid growing tensions on the Ukraine Russia border, President of France Emmanuel Macron visited his counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on Monday in an attempt to de-escalate the crisis.

Though the solution to the showdown is still unclear, and the Kremlin continues to push for security guarantees that the US and NATO have called non-starters, Macron said that he and Putin were beginning to build a “constructive arrangement,” which was “mutually acceptable” to Russia and the rest of Europe to “help us avoid war.”

“This dialogue is absolutely essential, more than ever, to ensure the stability and security of the European continent,” Macron said in remarks aired on Russian state television at a meeting soon after he arrived at the Kremlin.

Putin said the two countries shared “common concern” about the security situation in Europe. He continued to state the issue is about “the resolution of the intra-Ukrainian crisis,” casting the conflict in Donbas as a purely internal matter of Ukraine and avoiding mention of Russia’s role in it.

Based on the latest US intelligence estimates, Russia has assembled 70% of the military personnel and weapons it would need for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, US officials say there’s no indication that Russia’s leader has decided to launch an attack. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any plans of an incursion.

Photo: Associated Press/Alex Brandon

As the intense meeting unfolded in Moscow, US President Joe Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, DC on Monday. The main issues discussed were the positions of the two countries on the Ukraine Russia crisis. While the Biden administration demonstrated a united Western front against invasion, Scholz largely watched from the sidelines as the crisis escalated, drawing criticism and questions over Germany’s willingness to confront Moscow.

Ahead of the meeting, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said its government was prepared to enforce “unprecedented sanctions” on Russia if the Kremlin fails to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine. She added, “We will do everything to ensure that there is no further escalation. We have therefore jointly prepared a series of tough measures against Russia for this eventuality.”

Since Scholz succeeded Angela Markel in December, Germany has taken a softer approach on Russia. Scholz has yet to join the US, France, Spain and other allies in bolstering troops along NATO’s eastern flank, nor is Germany willing to provide Ukraine with lethal aid, going further and refusing to allow NATO ally, Estonia, to send German-made howitzers.

Some experts have suggested Germany’s contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which is meant to bring natural gas from Russia to the country, may be the reason why it’s not taking a more prominent role. In an apparent attempt to refute that criticism, Scholz will visit Russia and Ukraine later this month.

What became obvious, Macron has taken Merkel’s place as a leading mediator for Europe, thrusting himself to the center stage as Putin tests the West’s resolve. Currently at the helm of the European Union’s rotating presidency, Macron has spoken several times per week with Putin, and placed his third phone call in a week to Biden on Sunday evening.

According to a statement from the Elysee Palace, Macron and Biden agreed Sunday to capitalize on the “positive progress” made in the Normandy Format — a grouping of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia — to bolster the Minsk agreements. The ceasefire protocol was signed by Ukraine and Russia in 2015 after Russia annexed Crimea and fomented a rebellion in Ukraine’s east. Despite the agreement, the two sides have not seen a stable peace.

There are indicators that the talks between Macron and Moscow went well, and the ground for “the new order of security in Europe, including guarantees of regional security” has been laid. Putin described Macron as a “quality interlocutor,” according to an official in the French presidency.

The stakes are high. Macron is seeking to stop the massive Russian military buildup of more than 100,000 soldiers from bubbling over into war and soothe Russia’s security grievances, which include demands that Ukraine and Georgia be blocked from ever becoming members of the alliance and a drawdown of troops in the region.

“I’m reasonably optimistic but I don’t believe in spontaneous miracles,” Macron told reporters on the flight to the Russian capital, according to CNN affiliate BFM TV, which was traveling with the French president.

Moscow stays less optimistic. “For now, the atmosphere remains extremely tense,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: crisisEastern EuropeeuropeMacronPutinRussiaUkraineworld news
Olga Steckel

Olga Steckel

Related Posts

Brazil 2023 protests: The domino effect of our leaders’ words

Brazil 2023 protests: The domino effect of our leaders’ words

by Oriana Valderrama
January 17, 2023
0

As world leaders rise and fall, and their voices are elevated with the power of social media, there's an inherent...

children playing in shabby yard with old clothes

Darien’s jungle: A deadly pursuit of the American dream

by Oriana Valderrama
November 26, 2022
0

Panama and Colombia mark the division of South America and Central America. In between their borders “La Selva del Darien”,...

The 20th CCP Party Congress: The Reassertion of China’s Continued Rise?

The 20th CCP Party Congress: The Reassertion of China’s Continued Rise?

by The NYC Daily Post Editorial Staff
November 4, 2022
0

Marion Gabriel, NYC Daily Post Contributor On October 16, Xi officially secured another five years as leader of the CCP,...

Long-term solutions needed to respond to Ukraine’s refugee crisis

Long-term solutions needed to respond to Ukraine’s refugee crisis

by The NYC Daily Post Editorial Staff
August 30, 2022
0

Marion Gabriel, Contributing Writer 6 months after the start of the Ukraine invasion, the refugee crisis becomes one of European...

ukraine gtain deal

Russia, Ukraine sign grain deal to avoid disapproval from Global South

by The NYC Daily Post Editorial Staff
August 2, 2022
1

By Marion Gabriel, Contributing Writer A U.N.-brokered agreement between Russia and Ukraine resumed Ukraine's grain exports after months of global...

Why would Putin’s Russia do this to Ukraine?

Why would Putin’s Russia do this to Ukraine?

by Joe McGraw
August 2, 2022
0

As footage rolls in of Russian T-90 tanks scurrying across the Ukrainian border, many are left with a shaken worldview....

Next Post
“His & Hers” Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

"His & Hers" Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Recommended

forever chemicals

‘Forever chemicals’ gain attention with lawsuits, studies

6 months ago
Miniature art: What are ACEOs?

Miniature art: What are ACEOs?

3 weeks ago

Popular News

  • Be My Eyes: the gift of sight

    Be My Eyes: the gift of sight

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty of Sex Trafficking Charges

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Brazil 2023 protests: The domino effect of our leaders’ words

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Collective News Perspectives

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sonny S. Patel, MPH, MPhil: Boston Congress of Public Health 40 under 40 Winner

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get the latest news from the US and around the world in your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE

Category

  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Miscellaneous
  • New York
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • U.S.
  • World

Site Links

  • Articles
  • Home
  • Meet our leadership
  • Newsletter
  • Submit an Article

The New York City Daily Post

Empower your perspective with news and opinions from the U.S. and around the world.

  • New York
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

© 2021-2023. The NYC Daily Post. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • New York
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

© 2021-2023. The NYC Daily Post. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Go to mobile version
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: