France’s Macron says it’s important to avoid humiliating Putin

France’s Macron says it’s important to avoid humiliating Putin
FILE PHOTO: France’s President Emmanuel Macron attends a news conference with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine, France’s President Macron has spoken to Russia’s Putin numerous times to try to come to a deal and negotiate a ceasefire. This is in contrast to the US and UK, both of which have not kept up a direct dialogue with Putin. Speaking to French media, Macron said that Putin had “made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history.” But he repeated the importance that we avoid humiliating Russia, saying that Putin had isolated himself and the country and would need a path to get out.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hit back, saying that Russia is humiliating itself.

Key comments:

“I think, and I told him, that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history," Macron said. “Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path."

“Calls to avoid humiliation of Russia can only humiliate France and every other country that would call for it. Because it is Russia that humiliates itself. We all better focus on how to put Russia in its place. This will bring peace and save lives,” tweeted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.