Macron names possible timeline for ceasefire in Ukraine

Fighting in Ukraine may stop within a few weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron has said on 24 February. This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron on February 24.

"I believe that it is possible to at least achieve a truce and then start discussing a sustainable peace. <...> A truce is needed first. I think it can be achieved in the next weeks," he said in an interview with Fox News television.

According to him, this was made possible by the return of Donald Trump to the American presidency.

"We want this, and I think President Trump's initiative is very positive. <...> President Trump's coming to power was a turning point," Macron emphasized.

The French leader also positively assessed the holding of talks between the US and Russia and explained that it was not surprising that European representatives were not present.

"It is normal that the US is having discussions with Russia. I wasn't at the table, but, look, I'm talking to you now and there's no Russia at the table. And when I'm having discussions with China, you're not represented at the table. It's just that we were concerned about discussing Ukraine in the absence of Ukraine or European security in the absence of Europe. But the U.S. and Russia have plenty of other topics to negotiate. It is positive and normal to resume interaction," Macron clarified.

However, the leader added that he considers it important to work together to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, as it concerns, among other things, the security of Europe.

"Let's work together to maintain security guarantees for the future and ensure that peace is respected," he concluded.

Western wounds: the US again failed to show solidarity with Europe on the Ukraine issue

For what some EU leaders went to Kiev on February 24, and Macron went to Washington, DC

The Politico newspaper reported on February 24 that Macron, at his meeting with Trump, plans to offer Washington the deployment of European Union (EU) military forces in Ukraine as a condition for the start of negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported the previous day that the UK and France were developing a plan to deploy up to 30,000 European peacekeepers in Ukraine.