Russia fixed on goals regarding Ukraine, Vladimir Putin tells Emmanuel Marcon

Russian President Vladimir Putin assured his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday that the goals of Russia’s operation in Ukraine – demilitarisation and neutrality – will be realised in any scenario, according to the Kremlin.

Putin stated that any move by Kyiv to postpone negotiations would result in Moscow adding more demands to its list.

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Earlier in the day, Emmanuel Macron cautioned that Europe must become more self-sufficient in order to defend itself and maintain energy supplies in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The French president declared that the fighting had “changed the era” across Europe and that he would convene a summit of European leaders next week to discuss how to face the “unprecedented challenge” it has created.

In a 14-minute prime-time television address, he warned France that it was facing upheaval and higher prices, and that the country and its European partners needed to invest to wean themselves off Russian gas and become self-sufficient in energy production, as well as address defence issues and food production concerns.

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“We can no longer depend on others to feed us, care for us, inform us, finance us,” Macron said. “We cannot depend on others to defend us, whether on land, at sea, under the sea, in the air, in space or in cyberspace. In this respect, our European defence must take a new step forward.”

Earlier, accusing his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of launching a “premeditated and unprovoked” war against Ukraine, President Joe Biden said in his first State of the Union Address on Tuesday that the US is ready to meet the challenge.

“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising,” Biden said this while delivering his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.

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“That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations. It matters. American diplomacy matters,” he said.

“Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready,” he added.