After a visit to Moscow, the President of France is expected in Kiev.
Macron came to meet Putin / REUTERS
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Presidents of Russia and France Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron started a meeting in Moscow. They communicate on “you”, Macron calls Putin without a patronymic – Vladimir.
They write about it”RIA Novostiby posting the corresponding video.
At the start of the meeting, Putin said he was “glad to see” Macron for the first time in two years. He responded by thanking him for his time.
The French president, at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, also said that today’s conversation could begin the path of de-escalation in Ukraine and the prevention of hostilities. The public discussion will be followed by a working lunch and a joint press conference.
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The beginning of their conversation was not without a hitch. When Putin and Macron sat down at the table, it was not immediately clear whether there would be translators with them. In the case of simultaneous translation, both of them would need to wear an earpiece. Putin even had to clarify this, and after receiving the answer, he nodded and started the conversation.
Recall that the President of France after a visit to Moscow will visit Kiev – this will happen tomorrow, February 8th. He recently said that the EU should start its own dialogue with Moscow and not rely on Washington.
Escalation around Ukraine
Over the past few months, Russia has been amassing troops on the border with Ukraine but has denied plans to invade.
Moscow also put forward a number of demands, in particular, it was about the fact that NATO denied Ukraine membership in the alliance and reduced its military presence in Eastern Europe.
Western countries have rejected this, instead suggesting other areas of negotiation, such as negotiations to reduce nuclear weapons.
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