Macron Hints at Neutral Venue for Zelensky-Putin Summit
PARIS – Following high-level meetings at the White House on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron said the upcoming summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin would be held in Europe.
“It will be hosted by a neutral country, maybe Switzerland — I’m pushing for Geneva — or another country,” Macron told French news channel LCI on Tuesday.
He recalled that the last round of bilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul, referring to three rounds of lower-level negotiations held in Turkey between May and July.
Macron added that France and Britain would meet with other Ukrainian allies on Tuesday to “keep them up to date on what was decided” in Washington, particularly regarding security guarantees for Ukraine—a key topic during the talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Right after that, we’ll start concrete work with the Americans. So as of tomorrow, our diplomatic advisers, ministers, and chiefs of staff will begin working on seeing who’s ready to do what,” he said.
On the sensitive issue of territorial concessions, Macron emphasized that the decision rests with Ukraine. “Ukraine will make the concessions it deems just and right,” he said.
He also cautioned against legal recognition of territory seized by force. “If countries… can say, ‘we can take territory by force,’ that opens a Pandora’s box,” Macron warned.
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