PARIS:French President Emmanuel Macron has said he could invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June, if he agrees to resume peace talks with Ukraine.
In an interview with France 5, Macron said he was open to the possibility of inviting Putin “if he holds peace talks and changes the situation” with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky.
This is a change of tone from Macron, who said last week that the war in Ukraine had made relations with Moscow “virtually impossible”. He added, however, that he was ready to talk to Putin if he respected international law and Ukrainian sovereignty.
“I haven’t changed my number,” Macron said.
Macron’s remarks came after Putin’s year-end press conference, where he said he had a “quite good working relationship” with Macron, but it soured after Macron broke it off.
Putin said he was interested in mending ties with France, but added: “But if we are imagining conspiracy theories, maybe Western leaders wanted to have their own chit-chat before having some contact with us.”
He also said the truth about the history and the tragedy of the Second World War mattered more than attending the D-Day anniversary.
The war in Ukraine, which started in 2022, has killed over 10,000 people and displaced millions. France has been one of the main weapons suppliers to Ukraine, while Russia has backed the separatists in the east.
Several attempts at peace have failed, as the US and the UK have opposed negotiations or a ceasefire. Russia has demanded that Ukraine drop its NATO aspirations and not host foreign military bases.
However, recent developments have shifted the dynamics of the conflict. Western support for Ukraine has weakened, as the US has run low on aid and Ukraine has lost ground to the rebels. Europe’s resources have also been drained, with no clear exit strategy. Moreover, the Israeli war on Gaza has diverted the West’s attention and resources.
These changes have prompted some of Kiev’s backers to seek a more sustainable solution, which includes exploring the option of peace talks with Russia.
