Macron to Hold Talks with Putin, Zelensky Next Week

French President Emmanuel Macron is going to hold talks next week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

"Our desire is contact with President Zelensky, whom I will see on Wednesday, and in contact with President Putin, with whom I will negotiate next week, to restart this format [Normandy format] and the political process," Macron said at a press conference on Thursday.

Moreover, Macron affirmed that US participation in the settlement in Ukraine will not replace the existing Normandy format.

"I think this coordination will not replace the format that exists. President Biden himself noted in the communique the importance of the Normandy format," he noted.

In the same vein, the French President thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for coordinating with European partners before and after talking with Putin.

On Tuesday, Biden held a secure video call with Putin where he reiterated America’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that Biden told President Putin directly that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States and their European allies would respond with strong economic measures.

“We would provide additional defensive materiel to the Ukrainians above and beyond that which we are already providing,” Sullivan said.