U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end the war quickly.
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Ukraine needs to adopt a « realistic » stance on territorial issues as political momentum appears to gather in favor of opening peace talks with Russia.
This is the first time Macron has hinted that Kyiv should consider territorial concessions, having in the past repeatedly called for Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be preserved in any negotiations to end the war.
« The Ukrainians need to have realistic discussions on territorial issues, which they alone can do, » he said during a speech to French ambassadors gathered in Paris.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and, since launching its full-scale offensive in 2022, now controls large swaths of territory in eastern Ukraine.
The French president’s comments come as Europe prepares for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is pushing for a quick end to the war in Ukraine, to take office on Jan. 20.
Macron also said the United States should help bring Russia to the negotiation table, and that Europeans should provide Ukraine with security guarantees as their responsibility.
However, the French president also warned against hoping for a swift resolution of the conflict.
« There won’t be a quick solution, » he said. « No quick solution that implies the capitulation of Ukraine will be good for Europeans or for the United States. »
