Emmanuel Macron in Strasbourg and Berlin to celebrate Europe against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron during a European Union summit at the European Council building at EU headquarters in Brussels on December 17, 2021. (Illustrative image) © JOHN THYS / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Emmanuel Macron is going to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this Monday, May 9 for the closing of the Conference on the Future of Europe, then to Berlin.

Two particularly symbolic trips to celebrate Europe Day against a backdrop of war in Ukraine and while in Russia, Vladimir Putin wants to make parades on May 9, which devote the victory of 1945, a show of force.

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At the Élysée, we do not hide it, on this Monday, May 9, there will be two face-to-face images on both sides of the continent: that of European leaders gathered in Strasbourg to " 

affirm the strength of liberal democracies

 " and that of

Vladimir Putin

in Moscow who, according to the president's entourage, will embody “ 

a model of historical revisionism that sheds blood on Ukrainian soil

 ”.

Special meaning

In this context, the trip of Emmanuel Macron, who will deliver his first European speech in Strasbourg since the start of the war in Ukraine, takes on a particular meaning, explains

Valérie Gas

, from the political service of RFI.

Especially since it will be followed by the President's first international trip to Berlin, as promised before the election, as in 2017, to meet Chancellor Scholz and reaffirm the solidity of the Franco-German couple, beyond the crises and elections.

Symbolic

A symbolic day where issues related to the situation in Ukraine, sanctions, European security will be at the heart of discussions.

And the hypothesis of a joint trip by Emmanuel Macron and

Olaf Scholz

to Kiev may be mentioned, even if at the Élysée we take care to recall that such a visit " 

is not planned at this stage 

".

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To listen: War in Ukraine: "It's a historic turning point in European construction"

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  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Olaf Scholz

  • France

  • Germany

  • Russia

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Ukraine