Emmanuel Macron calls for reason in the face of escalation in Ukraine since the G20 summit in Brazil

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit, spoke on Tuesday November 19 about the alarming situation in Ukraine. His comments came as Vladimir Putin expanded the conditions under which Russia can use nuclear weapons, a development described as worrying by Emmanuel Macron.

After Ukraine struck Russian targets with American long-range missiles, the French president made a solemn appeal to Russia: “I call on Russia and Mr Putin to reason and to collective de-escalation”, he declared, underlining Moscow’s responsibilities as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Macron also accused Russia of playing a growing role in global instability: “Russia today is becoming a power of global destabilization.”

A peace conditioned by Russia! Yes, but not only that…

During his speech, Emmanuel Macron recalled that the resolution of the conflict rests primarily on Russia. “We all want peace to arrive in 2025. But it depends first of all on Russia: that it stops attacking, bombing, killing and invading. Then, it depends on the agreement that the protagonists in this conflict can reach.” “And to add, off mic, via one of his close associates: ‘It remains to be determined who all the protagonists are!’”

An appeal to Xi Jinping for mediation

On the sidelines of the summit, Emmanuel Macron also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he discussed the need for Beijing to intervene diplomatically with Moscow. “I called on President Xi Jinping to use all his weight, his pressure, his negotiating capacity towards President Putin to stop the attacks,” he said.

This statement reflects the importance of international mobilization to stem this dangerous escalation, in a context where peace remains fragile and uncertain.