Emmanuel Macron wished, Wednesday, January 19, that Europe builds “a new security order” with NATO against Russia and pleaded for “a frank and demanding dialogue” with Moscow. “The security of our continent requires a strategic rearmament of our Europe as a power of peace and balance, in particular in the dialogue with Russia”, continued the Head of State, who presented to MEPs France’s priorities for the six months of its presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Emmanuel Macron in front of the European Parliament: follow the day in our Direct
The dialogue with Russia, “I have been defending him for several years, he is not an option”, he hammered, in full tension between Russia and the West.
Moscow has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Ukrainian border in recent weeks, raising fears of an invasion. While denying belligerent intentions, the Kremlin insists that a de-escalation requires guarantees for its security, in particular the commitment never to enlarge NATO, in particular to Ukraine.
“What we need to build is a European order based on principles and rules to which we sided and which we acted not against, nor without, but with Russia thirty years ago”, said Emmanuel Macron.
Among these principles, he cited “the rejection of the use of force, threat, coercion; the free choice for States to participate in organizations, alliances, security arrangements of their choice; the inviolability of borders; the territorial integrity of States, the rejection of spheres of influence”.
“We will continue with Germany, within the framework of the Normandy format (France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine) to seek a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine which remains the generator of current tensions”, underlined the French president.