Macron-Putin Meeting: Is Diplomacy Still Possible? (February 2022)

 Russian President Putin and French President Macron met at the Kremlin to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Macron's visit to Russia, which has been critical of NATO in recent years and has made important political and economic decisions in the European Union, was closely watched by both Russia and the west, which accuses Russia of "not responding forcefully." During the hours of the Macron-Putin meeting, Chancellor of Germany Scholz met with Biden in the White House, where he was accused of not sending a strong message on the Ukraine problem. The globe was left wondering why there was no message that made people pleased at the summits, and the war dread was heightened even more by the statements issued by Russian President Putin before and after the conference.

Distance

French President Emmanuel Macron, who came to Moscow to address the Ukraine crisis, was received coldly and distantly in the Kremlin. Macron was held in the Kremlin Palace for 1.5 hours before the meeting, according to Moscow's sources. Putin received Macron next to a big table after 1.5 hours and began the conversation with a frigid and distant greeting. While the French saw Putin's long table message as disrespect, only a portion of it was shared on the French President's official Twitter account. According to Kremlin experts, such a table was preferable within the framework of coronavirus measures, and Putin had no intention of sending any messages with the table's length.

Putin: "A War in Europe Could Happen Again"

The two presidents' meeting, which was convened to discuss the Ukraine problem, lasted about 5 hours. Following the meeting, the two leaders appeared in front of the press. While his body language suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was uneasy, his harsh comments were on the international agenda. "Today's conversations with Mr. Macron took place seriously as usual, it was meaningful and useful," Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, beginning his speech by noting that he had a constructive meeting with Macron. Following that, he discussed NATO's security measures, claiming that pledges made to them had not been kept, and that Ukraine's admission to NATO would pit the alliance against Russia. Putin stated that such a war would have no winner and highlighted that "Russia is a nuclear power" and that everyone should be cautious. Putin stated that Ukraine's membership in NATO is unacceptable, saying, "If Ukraine joins NATO and tries to forcibly reclaim Crimea, a conflict between NATO and Russia will erupt, and Europe will once again be drawn into an avalanche."

Putin: "Minsk Treaty: One Solution"

Putin added that handling Crimea with military force is important in Ukraine's security doctrines, and that Ukraine's NATO membership is a direct cause of conflict in this context "The doctrinal documents of Ukraine reveal that Russia is an adversary and that the return of Crimea is a military operation. Consider the fact that Ukraine is a NATO member. NATO's 5th article (joint defense against an attack on a NATO country) has not been abrogated. Mr. Biden recently stated that Article 5 is a must-have and would be implemented. "This means there will be a military clash between Russia and NATO," he predicted. "The US and NATO brushed off widespread misgivings about Russia's security pledges. For the past 30 years, Russia has tried to urge NATO not to take actions that ignore Moscow's concerns," Putin said, alluding to the Minsk Treaty on the resolution of the Ukraine problem. "Whether you like it or not, you have to follow the Minsk Agreements if you want to solve the Donbass crisis," he stated. The Russian leader accused Kiev of dissolving the Minsk Treaty, claiming that there is no diplomatic option other than the Minsk Treaty. He also claimed that the Steinmeier Formula, which was signed in Minsk, has yet to gain traction.

Putin stated that he informed Macron about Russia's security message to NATO and the United States, and that everyone is responsible for security. Putin also stated that Russia cannot eliminate security threats on its own. "If security is something everyone wants, why don't they give up on the concept of deploying armaments on Russian borders? There isn't a single security guarantee that Russia can't deliver," Putin said, adding that he would never allow Crimea to be returned to Ukraine through military means.

Putin: "Do you want to go to war?"

In response to a question about a possible war from a French journalist at the news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised his voice and exclaimed, "Do you wish to engage in combat with Russia? Do you want France to fight Russia, ask your readers, viewers, and internet users? "He voiced his displeasure. Finally, noting that Ukraine's former President, Petro Poroshenko, was tried in Kiev, Putin stated that he could provide him with shelter and that he could welcome him in Russia.

Macron: A Diplomatic Solution Is Still Possible

Macron stated before his meeting with Putin that "Today's meetings, in my opinion, will be an attempt to de-escalate political and military tensions on the problems that must be addressed in order to move forward. I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss these concerns in depth and to begin the search for a viable solution for both Europe and Russia "Macron stated that he does not believe in miracles and that he does not believe in miracles. He stated emphatically that the Ukraine problem cannot be settled by a single conversation. In this background, at the press conference following the summit, Macron, who met with Putin, emphasized diplomacy and dialogue.

The French president opened his remarks by criticizing Lukashenko's nuclear claims. "I was concerned about Belarusian President Lukashenko's deployment of nuclear weapons, but Putin assuaged my fears," he stated. "It is necessary to agree on special measures to stabilize security and reduce tensions," Macron said, referring to the situation in the European Union with Russia. "We need new mechanisms to establish stability in Europe; this will not be possible by revising existing agreements."

In response to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Macron stated that his shuttle diplomacy may be the first step in resolving the issue. "Over the last few weeks, we've had multiple phone talks with Putin. Despite the turmoil, I was able to discuss Ukraine with President Zelensky and coordinate with a number of European allies, including the British, Americans, and Canadians. Today's discussion may be the beginning of a new path for me. This is how you de-escalate the situation. I am relieved that we will be able to explore all of the issues in depth and begin looking for a collaborative response that will benefit Russia and Europe as a whole. This approach will help us to avert conflict and restore stability, transparency, and trust to all parties involved," Macron said. 

"As a result, we all need to act responsibly," Macron added, referring to the dire situation in Europe. We established the groundwork for dialogue in 2019, an open, difficult, and comprehensive dialogue. Following that, there were other discussions in St. Petersburg, Bregancon, and other locations, and I believe that "there is a demand like never before." This debate is vital because it is the only way to maintain the European continent's true stability and security," he stated.