Emmanuel Macron on Monday (August 19th) welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Fort Brégançon, the summer residence of the French head of state. Before a face-to-face interview, the two presidents addressed several international issues in front of the press.
The French head of state, in front of his Russian counterpart, pleaded for a four-way summit (Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France) on Ukraine "in the coming weeks", saying that there was a "real change "in the relations between Kiev and Moscow. "The choices of (Ukrainian) President Zelensky are a real change for the situation" and "we will have to consider the opportunity, which is my wish, of a new summit in Normandy format in the coming weeks", has -he declares.
Vladimir Putin spoke of "cautious optimism" on the issue of the pro-Russian separatist regions of eastern Ukraine after his contacts with the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The Russian head of state said: "I will speak (with Emmanuel Macron) about my contacts with the new Ukrainian President, there are things that are worthy of discussion and that cause cautious optimism."
This joint speaking in front of the press was also an opportunity to address the situation in Syria - and more particularly in the province of Idleb. "It is imperative that the cease-fire be respected in Idleb," said Emmanuel Macron. Vladimir Putin said that Russia "supports the efforts of the Syrian army to eliminate terrorist threats to Idleb".
Macron in Russia for the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany
The French head of state also called for respect for freedom of expression and the choice to run for elections in Russia, where more than 2,000 demonstrators calling for free elections have been arrested in recent weeks.
"Russia has its place in the Europe of values," said Emmanuel Macron. And he added: "We have been able to call this summer that the freedom to manifest, expression, opinion, to stand for elections in the framework of any country within this council (of Europe ) be fully respected in Russia ".
Finally, the French president announced that he will travel to Moscow in May 2020 to attend the celebrations in Russia of the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. "I am grateful" to Emmanuel Macron for having accepted this invitation, added Vladimir Putin, the Russians attaching the utmost importance to these commemorations that have been shunned by Westerners since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
Before today, the two Heads of State have already met several times in a tête-à-tête, in May 2017 in Versailles and last year in Saint-Petersburg. They also spoke at each G20, most recently in Osaka in June. The reception on Monday is a way to make up for Moscow's absence at the G7 summit next weekend.
With AFP and Reuters