Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron declared the need for a dialogue with Russia in the interests of international stability. TASS reports his words.
“Without dialogue, stability cannot be ensured, so we need a dialogue with Russia,” Macron said, adding that it is necessary despite the differences of the parties. Explaining his position, the President noted that Russia is a part of Europe, both historically and geographically. “We have a common history, literature, culture, and we must take this into account,” he said.
In addition, the French leader emphasized the importance of discussions on arms control with the participation of the European Union, Russia, the United States and China. He added that after the unilateral decision of the United States to withdraw from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty), Europe “is no longer protected from Russian missiles.”
In December last year, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, predicted that Europe will not be stable without balance in relations with Russia and Turkey. Borrell said European integration was necessary to overcome conflicts between countries that have characterized the continent's history for centuries. The Ottoman and Russian empires have also been part of these processes since their inception.
