Macron wants to stop the war in Ukraine for the Olympic Games.
According to France 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in an interview with Ukrainian TV that France will demand an end to the conflicts in Ukraine during the Olympic Games in Paris. However, Macron claimed that France is ready to react if the conflict escalates, but will not initiate aggression.
This year’s Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
He also said that he is ready to talk with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, about the proposals to reduce tension in Ukraine.
Macron said “I will pick up the phone (if Putin calls). It is my responsibility and I will listen to his suggestion. The role of France (in the Ukrainian war) is to be the nerve of the war… on the other hand, it is necessary to provide military equipment to strengthen the defense capability of the Ukrainian army, but at the same time to promote de-escalation to Ukraine. If Putin wants to offer something, I will listen to his proposal.
He further claimed: “We are ready for any challenge, if another round of tensions occurs from Russia, we will be ready to react for the security of Ukraine and the Europeans, but France will not be the first to start aggression.”
After a Paris-hosted conference on Ukraine in late February, Macron said Western leaders had discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, and although no consensus had been reached, nothing could be ruled out.
These statements of Macron were widely criticized, and most of the European Union members, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland, rejected the idea of deploying Western forces in Ukraine.
In this regard, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said that “no troops will be sent to Ukraine by European countries or NATO members”.