Jacques Serais (on site), edited by Gauthier Delomez
modified to
07:38, February 08, 2022
The meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin was expected in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. After more than five hours of discussions, the Russian president underlined the good proposals of the tenant of the Élysée, while remaining firm on the maintenance of Russian soldiers on the border with Ukraine.
A laborious press conference in Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia to try to find a way out of the Ukraine crisis. But the head of state has pulled nothing, or almost nothing, in the face of the firmness of the master of the Kremlin. There were five hours of tete-a-tete on Monday evening between the two men, but the time seemed longer for the Russian president. “President Macron has been talking to me for almost six hours, almost torturing me,” said Vladimir Putin at the end of the discussions.
The interview between E.Macron and V.Poutine is still ongoing. The 5 hour mark is crossed. One element of understanding among others: this is the menu for the working dinner at the Kremlin. @Europe1pic.twitter.com/qfaYQxZw37
— Jacques Serais (@JacquesSerais) February 7, 2022
Intense exchanges between the two men
This phrase from the Russian president underlines the intensity of the exchanges that reigned around the very large oval table in the Kremlin’s performance hall. “We had a lively, substantial exchange,” admits Emmanuel Macron half-heartedly. Vladimir Putin says he is ready for compromises and welcomes the French president’s proposals: “Some of (Macron’s) ideas in my opinion are feasible and can serve as a basis.” However, he does not concede any military withdrawal to the Ukrainian border, sending the head of state back to his meeting on Tuesday in Kiev, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“125,000 Russian soldiers at the border, it makes you nervous”
NATO is also in Vladimir Putin’s sights. “Ask your fellow citizens if they want France to go to war against Russia. Our concern concerns European security as a whole”, launches the master of the Kremlin, in a message full of innuendo.
In this balance of power, the tenant of the Élysée tries to remain in the posture of the mediator: “President Zelensky is the president of a country on the borders of which there are 125,000 Russian soldiers, so, dare I say it makes nervous.” The result is a bitter observation for Emmanuel Macron, who will not have managed to bend Vladimir Putin before going to Ukraine on Tuesday morning, then to Berlin in the afternoon.