Putin insists on peace terms without withdrawing troops
Vladimir Putin declared on Thursday during a meeting with women who lost family members in the war initiated by Russia that his country should choose a peace in Ukraine that ensures Russia's long-term security and sustainable development, Reuters reported.
"We must choose a peaceful option for ourselves that suits us and provides our country with peace in the long term," Putin said on Thursday. He emphasized that the condition for peace and security in Russia is its stable development. When asked if Russian forces will withdraw from the occupied territories of Ukraine, he replied that they will not.
Let's recall that it was Russia that started the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Putin explained the invasion by stating that his country cannot develop and feel secure due to the constant threat from Ukraine. He argued that Ukraine is governed by Nazis, that the Russian-speaking population in Donbas is being persecuted, and that genocide is occurring there. His stated goal was to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.
On Thursday, Putin also referenced Wednesday's speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that Russia had become a threat to France and Europe and mentioned the potential of extending France’s nuclear umbrella over allies. "There are still people who want to return to the times of Napoleon, forgetting how it ended," Putin said, without mentioning Macron's name.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Macron's speech clearly contained "notes of nuclear blackmail." "Paris' ambitions to become the nuclear 'patron' of all of Europe have burst out into the open," assessed the Russian Foreign Ministry, as quoted by Reuters. According to the Russian ministry, "needless to say, this will not lead to strengthening the security of either France itself or its allies." Earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Macron's nuclear rhetoric "poses a threat to Russia."
Macron: Russia has become a threat to France and Europe
Macron announced on Wednesday that next week in Paris, a meeting of the chiefs of general staff of countries ready to guarantee peace in Ukraine will be held. He emphasized that Russia "has become a threat to France and Europe" and that "Russia has already made the Ukrainian conflict a global conflict," because Moscow is engaging soldiers from North Korea and using equipment from Iran.
"Answering the historic call of the future German chancellor, I have decided to open a strategic debate on the protection of our European allies through our deterrence," Macron said. He stipulated that decisions regarding French weapons will remain in the hands of the President of France.
