French President Emmanuel Macron declared to the French press that international pressure on Russia will intensify in the next two weeks in order to obtain a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.His statements come in the context of a discussion that took place at the funeral of Pope Francis between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister were photographed with the American and Ukrainian presidents at St. Peter’s Basilica. According to American National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, it was Trump who wanted to have a private conversation with Zelensky.”In the next eight to ten days, we will increase the pressure on Russia. I remain cautious because part of this equation depends on Moscow. We must be united,” Macron said in an interview with Paris Match, relayed by the Ukrainian radio and television network Suspilne.After US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the next week will be decisive for the fate of peace negotiations, in the sense that the US is not willing to wait much longer to see progress, otherwise considering to withdraw from peace mediation, Macron also highlighted that there is a decisive period ahead for a ceasefire.The French leader also said that he managed to convince the United States that it is important to increase pressure on the Kremlin, including through possible new sanctions.While expressing cautious optimism, he was also confident that a ceasefire is now “closer than ever.”He also added that the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his American counterpart Donald Trump at the Vatican contributed to increasing the pressure on the Russian Federation.Although the US has intensified its efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow has so far refused a 30-day total ceasefire. On April 26, Trump threatened that “banking or secondary sanctions” could be imposed on Russia, in light of the failure of efforts to reach a peace agreement, while Putin continues to bomb civilian areas.”We must be united and discourage this. I think we have succeeded, thanks to this meeting at the Vatican, in putting pressure on Russia again,” Macron said in the publication.The French president denounced the efforts to pressure Ukraine to make concessions, while no real pressure has been put on Russia so far.”That was the goal, because it was not fair for the pressure to be exerted exclusively on Ukraine,” Macron said.”We must be prepared, together with the Americans, to take a tougher stance towards Russia in order to obtain this ceasefire. I believe we have convinced the Americans of the possibility of escalation of threats and possibly sanctions, in order to push the Russians to accept this ceasefire,” Macron said.On April 28, Putin announced a so-called “humanitarian” ceasefire between May 8 and 10, when 80 years will have passed since the end of World War II and Russia will celebrate Victory Day.”We value human lives, not parades. That is why we believe – and the world believes – that there is no reason to wait until May 8,” Zelensky reacted.The US is considering recognizing Russian control of Crimea, among other major concessions proposed to Russia, including banning Kyiv from seeking membership in NATO. Most recently, Trump stated that he believes Zelensky would be willing to cede control of Crimea in exchange for peace.More details, HERE.
