This week may be key to the diplomatic settlement of the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border. An akin conclusion was reached by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke about the situation in Ukraine on February 20.
This was reported by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his press service reports.
According to him, the results of the conversation between the French and Russian presidents indicate Russia's desire to diplomatically resolve the conflict.
"The Prime Minister noted that President Putin’s commitments to President Macron were a welcome sign that he might still be willing to engage in finding a diplomatic solution. The Prime Minister stressed that Ukraine’s voice must be central in any discussions.," the message reads.
Macron and Johnson also agreed on the need for both Russia and Ukraine to meet their commitments under the Minsk Agreements in full. They also underscored the need for President Putin to step back from his current threats and withdraw troops from Ukraine’s border.
On Sunday, February 20, Presidents of the Russian Federation and France Vladimir Putin Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation. The Kremlin press service reported that "the two leaders had an in-depth discussion of the developments around Ukraine as well as developments regarding long-term legal security guarantees for the Russian Federation."
The press service of the French President noted that "the leaders of the two states agreed to take all actions in order to avoid escalation, reduce risks and preserve peace."
Recall that French President Emmanuel Macron, who discussed the situation in Ukraine with U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson on February 20, invited U.S. and Russian leaders to take part in a summit to discuss "security and stability in Europe."