France has no intention of making concessions to Moscow and wants victory for Ukraine in its war against Russia, as well as the restoration of its territorial integrity, it is explained at the Elysée, then that Paris’ position in the conflict has been the target of criticism.
Emmanuel Macron in particular suffered the wrath of the Ukrainian authorities and countries of Eastern Europe for having called, in an interview granted a week ago to the regional daily press, not to “humiliate” Russia “so that the day the fighting stops, we can build a way out through diplomatic channels”.
“As the president had the opportunity to say, we wish victory for Ukraine. We wish the territorial integrity of Ukraine to be restored,” said an adviser to the Elysée on Friday afternoon during of a briefing.
Emmanuel Macron has spoken regularly with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since the launch of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24, as part of efforts to obtain a ceasefire and start a credible negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow, which have hardly been reciprocated so far.
20 million tonnes of grain blocked in Ukraine
“There is no spirit of concession towards Vladimir Putin or Russia in what the President says. And when the President speaks to Putin directly, it is not to compromise, it is for him say it as we see it,” added the same source.
France is also ready to help provide access to the Ukrainian port of Odessa, where part of the Ukrainian grain stocks are ready to be exported, the source continued.
“We are at the disposal of the parties for, basically, that an operation be set up which would allow access to the port of Odessa in complete safety”, she said without giving details on the contours of this aid. . The Ukrainian authorities estimate that 20 million tonnes of cereals intended for export are blocked due to the conflict. Before the war, Ukraine was the world’s fourth largest grain exporter.
