Macron and Zelenskyy Urge Unconditional Ceasefire as Tensions With Russia Escalate
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have jointly called for Russia to accept a United States-brokered ceasefire without preconditions. Their remarks, made during a press conference in Paris on March 26, reflect a critical effort to quell ongoing hostilities stemming from the conflict in Ukraine.
Macron criticized Russia’s ongoing aggression, stating that the nation has shown a desire for war, thereby emphasizing the importance of a 30-day ceasefire. "This is a decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression," he declared. Further underscoring international cooperation, the French President will be hosting delegations from what he referred to as the ‘coalition of the willing’ on March 27. This coalition comprises Ukraine’s allies that are seeking to provide assistance to Kyiv and work towards securing a lasting ceasefire with Russia.
In tandem with Macron's remarks, President Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the potential influence of the United States in persuading Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, particularly one aimed at stopping military actions in the Black Sea region. Zelenskyy's confidence in American intervention comes amid complicated negotiations, as the U.S. has signaled it will assess Russia's conditions for agreeing to a ceasefire.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a news conference in Jamaica on March 26, pointed out that Washington would need to evaluate the stipulations Moscow insists must be met before it would agree to a ceasefire. Some of these conditions include the lifting of certain sanctions, which Rubio clarified are under the purview of the European Union rather than the United States. He remarked, "We’re going to evaluate that."
Despite U.S. considerations, Macron pushed back against the idea of lifting sanctions too early. He firmly stated, "We’re not going to lift the sanctions; it’s much too early. Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia’s choice of aggression, and therefore their lifting depends solely on Russia’s choice to comply with international law."
In addition to discussions focused on the ceasefire, the White House announced on March 25 that separate negotiations held in Saudi Arabia between Ukrainian and Russian representatives yielded an agreement. This agreement aims to develop measures to implement recent commitments aimed at halting strikes on energy infrastructure.
The recent developments indicate a significant push from Western leaders to establish a path towards de-escalation. However, the complexity of the geopolitical situation remains a hurdle, as the circumstances surrounding ceasefire negotiations continue to evolve.
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