While visiting Moscow, France’s Emmanuel Macron said he and Russia’s Vladimir Putin could make a start towards de-escalating the Ukraine standoff.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, is sitting at a long table across from President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow.
Macron is meeting Putin in Moscow to help defuse tensions amid a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin he hoped talks in Moscow could lead to an easing of tensions over Ukraine.
“This discussion can make a start in the direction in which we need to go, which is towards a de-escalation,” Macron said at the start of the meeting.
He added that he hoped to “avoid a war” and “build elements of confidence, stability and visibility for everyone.”
Putin said Moscow and Paris had common concerns over the security situation in Europe, and that France has for years worked towards a solution to the Ukraine conflict.
The two are set set to hold a press conference later in the day.
Why are the talks taking place?
Macron’s visit to Moscow comes as Western leaders fear a possible Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine amid a massive buildup of Russian troops at the border.
