Following conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin committed not to launch any new military activities near Ukraine for the time being as a preliminary to possible de-escalation.
According to the French official, the Russian leader also agreed that forces participating in a military exercise on Belarusian land near Ukraine’s borders would be withdrawn once the war games were completed.
When Putin talked to the media after his six-hour meeting with Macron in the Kremlin late Monday, he made no mention of such concessions. Reporters were unable to establish that Russia has made such guarantees independently.
On the condition of anonymity, the French official spoke to reporters.
Since Moscow began massing troops near Ukraine, Macron is the highest-ranking Western leader to meet with Putin. Western countries believe that Russia is planning an invasion; Moscow denies this but warns that unless a series of security demands are met, it may take unspecified military action.
Macron agreed to “open conversation on strategic concerns” during the talks, according to the French official, but no details on what that dialogue would include were provided.
Putin has requested modifications to Europe’s security arrangements, including guarantees that NATO will never admit Ukraine and that missiles will never be put near Russia’s borders, and that NATO’s infrastructure will be reduced.
During the meetings, the French source added, an agreement was reached to further up diplomacy under the so-called Normandy Format, in which France and Germany serve as facilitators in talks between Russia and Ukraine.
