On TF1, Emmanuel Macron increases pressure on Russia and Putin – Liberation
At a time when diplomacy gets carried away around Ukraine and three days After his return from Kyivwhere a historic summit was held on Saturday to support Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron did not drop the bridle of Vladimir Putin this Tuesday, May 13, during the show special Emmanuel Macron – The challenges of France On TF1, promising sanctions to Russia if it persists in refusing any ceasefire.
The presidential show started with forty minutes of questions and answers on international files, Ukraine swallowing 90 % of this high-end geopolitical interview in prime time, the congruent portion returning to Donald Trump and the American aims on the march of the world. From the intensification of the Israeli war in Gaza announced, it was only discussed in the second part of the program.
« What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing today is unacceptable (…) a shame »estimated Emmanuel Macron. The consequences of the Israeli operation on the inhabitants of Gaza « It is an unacceptable humanitarian drama »he added, refusing to decide on the qualification of this war: « It is not a president of the Republic to say this is a genocide, but to historians ».
On Saturday, Emmanuel Macron and three European leaders-Keir Starmer for the United Kingdom, Friedrich Merz for Germany and Donald Tusk for Poland-demanded from Moscow a thirty-day ceasefire on land, sea and in the air without prior conditions and then start sustainable talks. For the moment, it’s Niet. And Vladimir Putin obviously does not intend to go to Turkey on Thursday when it was he who thought he was pushing Volodymyr Zelensky in a dead end by offering him negotiations in Istanbul.
« Our will is to take sanctions » If Russia « Confirm the non-compliance » From a ceasefire in Ukraine, therefore repeated Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday evening. The French president spoke of « Secondary sanctions » for them « Resellers » of « Financial services » or of« Hydrocarbons ».
But even if they wanted, Western countries must go soft with Russia, however, Macron recalled: « We cannot go to climbing with nuclear power (…) We should not trigger a third world conflict. »
He also wanted to reassure the French, there is no question of sending soldiers to the Russian troops, explaining with a lot of pedagogy what was a « Reinsurance force ». “Reinsurance forces are not forces on the front line. Do you need a United Nations mandate? This is part of the questions (but) it is not the role of Europeans to be on the front line ”he said.
What if Moscow does not respect his word? “The first reaction will come from the Ukrainians so a solid Ukrainian army is needed. It takes a credible army to dissuade ”explained the head of state, hence the need « To invest, train, equip, support Ukraine to have these forces ».
Updated at 11:15 p.m. with declarations on Gaza.
