Macron wants to put Ukraine and russia at the negotiating table this summer with the help of China
He instructed his adviser to work systematically in this direction
French President Emmanuel Macron intends to reverse a series of disappointing diplomatic attempts by turning to China with a plan that he believes could potentially lead to talks between Ukraine and russia.
Source. Bloomberg
Macron has instructed his foreign policy adviser Emmanuel Bonnet to work with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, to create a framework that can be used as a basis for future talks, according to people familiar with the plans.
The French strategy envisions talks between Ukraine and russia taking place this summer if all goes well, people familiar with the process said.
However, this will depend on a number of conditions. Among them is a successful spring counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which would allow Kyiv to participate in the talks from a position of strength.
Macron's plan also provides Ukraine with long-term security guarantees that would deter russia from new acts of aggression, Bloomberg sources say.
Wang Yi, head of the office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and foreign minister in 2013-2022, already has established ties with Bonn. On the eve of Macron's recent visit to Beijing, Wang Yi suggested to his French counterpart that European countries should be involved in the negotiations he is trying to organize to end the war in Ukraine.
"A ceasefire, ending the war, resumption of peace talks and political settlement of the crisis should become a strategic consensus between China and Europe," Wang Yi said.
An Elysee Palace spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that Bonnet would speak with Wang, but declined to provide details, adding that Paris informs its allies of any initiatives.
During his recent trip to China, the French president did not achieve his goal of convincing Xi to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – they have not spoken since the start of the russian invasion.
Background. As a reminder, European politicians criticized Macron's words about the EU distancing itself from the United States.
If you have read this article to the end, we hope that means it was useful for you.
We work to ensure that our journalistic and analytical work is of high quality, and we strive to perform it as competently as possible. This also requires financial independence. Support us for only UAH 196 per month.
Become a Mind subscriber for just USD 5 per month and support the development of independent business journalism!
You can unsubscribe at any time in your LIQPAY account or by sending us an email: [email protected]
