Monday, 18 Aug 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > France says Putin promised no ‘new military initiatives’ near Ukraine in talks with Macron
World

France says Putin promised no ‘new military initiatives’ near Ukraine in talks with Macron

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
France says Putin promised no ‘new military initiatives’ near Ukraine in talks with Macron
SHARE
Good Morning America

February 8, 2022, 5:05 AM

French officials said Russian President Vladimir Putin has committed to not launching any new “military initiatives” near Ukraine, a sign they said suggests Putin is moving towards de-escalating the crisis around the country.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said Putin made the commitment during more than five hours of talks between the two leaders on Monday night in Moscow. The French officials said Putin had also promised that thousands of Russian troops massed in neighboring Belarus to the north of Ukraine would leave after exercises end there this month.

It “makes it possible to consider de-escalation,” the officials said in a briefing note sent to journalists.

If true, the promise could be an important sign Putin may be closer to taking Western diplomatic offers as a road out of the crisis, where the massing of tens of thousands of Russian troops near Ukraine has sparked fears of invasion.

The Kremlin on Tuesday downplayed the French officials comments, denying that any deal had been reached.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Financial Times, which first reported the French claims, had “simply written incorrectly.”

MORE: Biden, German chancellor present united front amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine

Peskov said it was not possible for Putin and Macron to reach a deal since France was not the leader of NATO, which would need to accept any agreements.

But in reality the French officials had not said a deal was reached, just that Putin had promised not to undertake new military initiatives and to initiate a “broader dialogue” that would need to include the rest of NATO countries.

Peskov also confirmed the promise Russian troops will leave Belarus once the joint exercises there end on Feb. 20.

“No one has ever said that Russian troops will remain on the territory of Belarus, that has never been a question,” Peskov told reporters. “On the conclusion of these exercises the troops will return to their place of permanent deployment.”

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow on Feb. 7, 2022. (Thibault Camus/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow on Feb. 7, 2022. (Thibault Camus/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow on Feb. 7, 2022. (Thibault Camus/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia has been pouring trainloads of troops into Belarus amid its broader build up near Ukraine, alarming Western countries which fear they could be used as a cover for an attack. But Moscow and Minsk both insist the troops are there just for war games.

Putin and Macron’s marathon talks in the Kremlin Monday had ended with a glimmer of hope the Russian leader is ready to accept diplomacy. Putin afterwards told a press conference that Macron had brought “a range of ideas,” which he said it was too early to talk about publicly, but that Putin said he considered “possible as the basis for our next steps.”

It was not clear what those ideas were. But French officials afterwards said Putin and Macron had agreed to “the initiation of a broader dialogue” on three key points: first, Russia’s military posture and second, the long-running ‘Normandy Format’ negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine between government and Russian-backed separatists in the east. Third, the “opening of a dialogue on strategic issues,” a phrase that refers to troop and weapon deployments, and wider questions of NATO’s relationship with Moscow.

Macron flew to Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he is expected to bring some of the ideas Putin referred to. Putin on Monday night told Macron, “Let’s see” how that meeting went, saying he and Macron had agreed to speak again after.

MORE: Diplomatic shuttle: Macron in Kyiv after Putin talks

While massing troops near Ukraine, the Kremlin has demanded the United States and NATO give binding guarantees that Ukraine will never join the alliance and that NATO will pull back its infrastructure from eastern European countries that joined after the Cold War.

The U.S. and NATO countries, including France, have rejected those as non-starters, but have offered to engage with the Kremlin on more modest security issues, including limits on missile deployments and troop exercises.

Macron in front of Putin again affirmed NATO’s so-called “Open Doors” policy, calling it “existential.” Any diplomatic breakthrough would either have to find a creative way of reassuring the Kremlin on its main demands or for Putin to move back from them.

Putin with Macron had said there were “some thing possible to talk about” in written responses the U.S. and NATO have sent to Russia’s demands, referring to the more modest offers on missile deployments and other military issues. But he referred to them as “secondary.”

The Kremlin on Tuesday lowered hopes around Macron’s efforts, saying “for now, of course we can’t say we sense any real path to a resolution.”

Peskov said Russia didn’t see “readiness for now” from Western countries to pay attention to its main concerns on NATO.

“The president emphasised this yesterday that, to our regret, in the answers that we received from Washington and NATO there are grains of rationality, but they unfortunately have a secondary character,” Peskov said Tuesday. “And on the fundamental issues we, unfortunately haven’t received an answer. And so this issue remains open in the full sense of that word and remains for us the most important.”

France says Putin promised no ‘new military initiatives’ near Ukraine in talks with Macron originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Kremlin: Reports of no new Russian military maneuvers near Ukraine ‘not right’ Kremlin: Reports of no new Russian military maneuvers near Ukraine ‘not right’
Next Article Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know about the fears of war Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know about the fears of war

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

Russians accused of staging French burial of bodies in Mali

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — The French military says it has videos of Russian mercenaries…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

John Amos Remembered With Emotional Memorial Service

John Amos is getting a grand sendoff ... within the type of an emotional memorial…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Frequent lockdowns may have contributed to Uvalde tragedy

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — Teachers and students at Robb Elementary School knew the safety protocols…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Alec Baldwin Sues ‘Rust’ Particular Prosecutor For Malicious Prosecution

Alec Baldwin is not on trial for the deadly taking pictures of Halyna Hutchins anymore,…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Netanyahu criticises protests in Israel in opposition to his dealing with of Gaza struggle
World

Netanyahu criticises protests in Israel in opposition to his dealing with of Gaza struggle

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Hamas says it accepts proposal for Gaza ceasefire and launch of hostages
World

Hamas says it accepts proposal for Gaza ceasefire and launch of hostages

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Man discovered responsible over east London capturing of nine-year-old woman
World

Man discovered responsible over east London capturing of nine-year-old woman

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Protests in Israel as authorities prepares for brand spanking new offensive on Gaza Metropolis – Center East disaster dwell
World

Protests in Israel as authorities prepares for brand spanking new offensive on Gaza Metropolis – Center East disaster dwell

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?