Macron: possible entry of Ukraine into NATO will lead to confrontation with Russia

The possible accession of Ukraine to NATO could lead to a confrontation with Russia. At the same time, Ukraine’s entry into the alliance is a “not the most likely” scenario. Such a statement done French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Le Monde newspaper.

“Ukraine’s accession to NATO will be perceived by Russia as something confrontational <...> Regardless of whether Ukraine joins NATO, which is not the most likely scenario, it will have to provide security guarantees,” the French leader said.

Macron explained that security guarantees should be provided not only to Ukraine, but also to Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus. According to him, Russia should also receive such guarantees, but this issue is not a priority, Macron hastened to add. He clarified that France is in favor of a strategy of “Ukraine’s absolute defense and victory.”

The French president also responded to criticism over proposals for a future security architecture for Moscow. He believes that in the end “it will be necessary to put everyone at the negotiating table.” He invited his critics to tell “with whom they will sit at [этим] table.” Macron added that he does not want China and Turkey to be the only negotiating countries in the future.

At the end of 2021, Russia published draft agreements between Russia and the United States and NATO on security guarantees. It was about the alliance’s refusal to expand to the east, as well as to accept the former USSR countries into NATO and deploy military bases on their territory. Negotiations on these issues have not yielded results. In March, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow had not received security guarantees from the United States and NATO.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. During the special operation, Russian troops took control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia, and on October 19 martial law was introduced in the regions.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, the parties have held talks several times in February and March. The previous meeting of representatives of Russia and Ukraine took place on March 29 in Istanbul, after which the process was frozen. At the same time, Moscow says it is open to negotiations. On the eve of December 21, about this said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. However, Ukraine adopted a law that prohibits negotiations with Russia.