Macron: Limiting Ukraine Aid Would Pave the Way to Another War
French President Emmanuel Macron said that countries seeking to ration aid to Ukraine want to impose an unjust peace on it. He called this a recipe for another war.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that those who want to limit aid to Ukraine are in effect seeking to force an "unjust peace" on it, warning that this could lead to another war. He made the statement on social media as the United States mediates talks between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the war that began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Those who want to ration aid to Ukraine wish underneath it all to force an unjust peace on it," Macron said, adding that this would affect all of Europe. He described such an attitude as the spirit of defeat and said it cannot be France's position.
Course of the talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments released on Saturday that Washington has suggested Kyiv cede land to Moscow in exchange for Ukraine joining NATO. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky separately on Thursday, after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough. The negotiations did, however, produce an agreement that European countries will join future talks.
On Friday in Dublin, Europe chose five countries — France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland — to send representatives to the talks.
Europe's role
Macron stressed that Europe must take full part in efforts to reach a fair and lasting peace. In his words, what happens in Ukraine directly concerns Europe, and helping Ukraine defend itself means protecting France and the French. He urged Ukraine's allies to clearly set out their postwar vision, including to Russia, and to specify what they expect from the United States for Europe's long-term security.
Macron said he believes Putin does not want to negotiate and is trying to break Ukraine by stepping up drone and missile strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure as winter approaches. For that reason, he argued, financial backing must continue, along with help for Ukraine to protect its people, power plants and grids.
