“One of the key issues that we need to address, as President Putin has always said, is the fear of NATO closing in on Russia’s doors and the deployment of weapons that could threaten Russia,” Macron said. “This issue will be part of the issues for peace. Therefore, we need to work out what we are prepared to do, how to protect our partners and member states, and how to give guarantees to Russia once it returns to the negotiating table.”
Russia and the United States had again announced their willingness to hold talks this week. However, US President Joe Biden had stated as a condition that Putin would show willingness to end the war. Ukraine has said negotiations are only possible if Russia withdraws its troops from the country.