Jacques Serais / Photo credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service 09:10, May 21, 2023

As the G7 ends this Sunday in Japan, Emmanuel Macron spoke to the press and returned to this summit, where exchanges mainly revolved around the subject of the war in Ukraine. The president notably justified having provided a plane to Volodymyr Zelensky, and returned to the need to establish peace.

Last hours for the G7 summit in Japan. And unsurprisingly, the war in Ukraine largely dominates exchanges with the presence in Hiroshima of President Volodymyr Zelensky. This Sunday morning, the French president spoke to the press and Emmanuel Macron draws his own assessment of this G7. The head of state is rather satisfied with this summit: for him, the France was at the maneuver.

"A frozen conflict will be a war for tomorrow"

Emmanuel Macron justifies himself for having made an official plane available to Volodymyr Zelensky in recent days. "I think it's the honour of the France to have done this and I think it's entirely consistent with our policy of support. By allowing President Zelensky to go to the Arab League and come here to plead before the troika of G20 presidencies, this is a way to build peace."

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The president is referring to Indonesia, India and Brazil, three states that refuse to impose sanctions against Russia. So, are there any openings on the part of these countries? "They all call for peace, we too, where we bring our positions closer is that they are told peace, it cannot be the transformation of the situation into frozen conflicts," Macron said. "Basically, that's how I'll say it in the simplest and clearest way. Because experience has taught us that a frozen conflict will be a war for tomorrow. Peace must be the construction of a lasting, negotiated peace that resolves the problem in its fundamentals and respects the Charter of the United Nations."

This G7 is coming to an end with a final meeting devoted to Ukraine. Immediately after, Emmanuel Macron will fly to Mongolia, where he will be received on a state visit.