Ukraine rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday for saying it was important not to “humiliate” Russia, a position that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said “can only humiliate France”.
Macron has sought to maintain a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February. His stance has been repeatedly criticized by some Eastern and Baltic partners in Europe – some see it as undermining efforts to push Putin to the negotiating table.
“We must not humiliate Russia so that, on the day the fighting ends, we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means,” Macron said in an interview with regional newspapers published on Saturday. “I am convinced that it is France’s role to be a mediating power.”
Kuleba responded via a Twitter post: “Calls to avoid humiliation by Russia can only humiliate France and all other countries that demand it.”
“Because it is Russia that humiliates itself. We’d better focus on how to put Russia in its place. It will bring peace and save lives.”
Calls to avoid humiliating Russia can only humiliate France and every other country that demands it. Because it is Russia that humiliates itself. We’d better focus on how to put Russia in its place. It will bring peace and save lives.
Dmitro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Macron has spoken regularly with Putin since the invasion as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire and start a credible negotiation between Kiev and Moscow, although he has had no tangible success to show for it.
“I think, and I told him (Putin), that he is making a historic and fundamental mistake for his people, for himself and for history,” Macron said.
Asked about the mediation offer on national television, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said there was “no point in holding negotiations” with Russia until Ukraine received new weapons from the West and pushed Russian forces “as far as possible into the Ukraine’s borders.
Russia now occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Kiev is getting more powerful weapons from the West.
“Our armed forces are ready to use (the new weapons)…and so I think we can start a new round of negotiations from a strengthened position,” David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian lawmaker and member of the negotiating team, said on Friday. (3).
Among other things, the United States will provide Ukraine with precision HIMARS rocket systems, allowing it to hit Russian positions from a greater range.
France also supplied offensive weapons, including the CEASAR howitzer, taken from French army stockpiles. Macron said he had asked weapons manufacturers to speed up production.
Source: CNN Brasil
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