Macron: Ukraine must be ‘realistic’ about territorial dispute as peace prospects loom
President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine must be “realistic” on territorial issues as a potential peace deal with Russia looms.
This is the first time that the leader of France, a staunch ally of Kiev, has suggested that Ukraine should consider a position that goes beyond aiming to regain all territory captured by Russia.
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Mr Macron is the latest in a string of European and world leaders to water down powerful rhetoric.
Volodymyr Zelensky himself told Sky’s Stuart Ramsay late last year that he would agree for Russia to keep the occupied territories for the time being in order to stop the fighting and allow Ukraine to join NATO.
President Macron said, “Ukraine needs to have a realistic discussion about territorial issues, and only Ukraine can do that.European countries are looking forward to building security on their own responsibility.”
He also said the United States should try to persuade Russia to come to the negotiating table from the beginning, but that any final deal would need to involve Ukraine and Europe.
“There will be no quick and easy solutions,” he added.
