Macron revealed Europe's peace plan for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron provided information about the peace plan developed by European countries to stop the war in Ukraine. According to Le Figaro, the UK and France have been working on this initiative for several months.
As Macron emphasized, the plan will also be officially presented to the US and includes several important aspects.
What is the basis of the peace plan?
Europe's proposal to implement a one-month partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is seen as the first step towards starting peace negotiations. However, this reconciliation only pertains to air and naval attacks and does not affect ground combat operations.
Macron commented on this, stating: "If the fire is stopped, it will be very difficult to control its compliance along the front."
For this reason, the initial phase of the plan aims to ease air and naval conflicts. This will help reduce attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities and decrease casualties among the civilian population.
European countries may send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine
According to Macron, the second part of the plan envisions European countries sending peacekeeping contingents to Ukraine. However, this process will only occur in the next phase, after the negotiations to stop the war are concluded.
"In the coming weeks, there will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil. We can use this time to stop the fire, engage in negotiations, and deploy troops after a peace agreement is signed," Macron said.
This plan is seen as a basis for stabilizing the situation in Ukraine and shaping future security guarantees.
What does Zelensky say about this plan?
In response to journalists' questions during his visit to London about whether he was aware of this plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said:
"I am aware of everything," he stated. This indicates that Zelensky is informed in advance about this initiative from France and the UK.
Macron proposes increasing Europe's defense spending
Macron emphasized that European countries need to allocate more funds to defense than they currently do.
"Over the past three years, the Russians have been spending 10 percent of their GDP on defense. Therefore, European countries should also set a target of 3 or 3.5 percent to prepare for the future. This is significantly different from the 2 percent that many countries have yet to reach," said the French president.
This indicates that NATO and European countries intend to strengthen their defense capabilities.
London summit and the future of the Ukraine conflict
On March 2, a summit dedicated to resolving the Russia-Ukraine war took place in London. Leaders from European countries, Turkey, and Canada participated. This indicates a further intensification of international diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the summit.
The conflict between Trump and Zelensky and its consequences
While the UK and France are working on the European peace plan, a sharp conflict occurred between Zelensky and Trump in Washington on February 28.
After discussions at the White House, Zelensky was asked to leave the presidential administration building, and an agreement on Ukraine's natural resources was not signed. This incident could have serious implications for US-Ukrainian relations.
The peace plan of France and the UK regarding Ukraine demonstrates the intention of the European Union and NATO to resolve the war through diplomatic means.
✅ The main objectives of the plan:
- Temporarily halt air and naval attacks.
- Conduct negotiations to sign a future peace agreement.
- Discuss the deployment of peacekeeping troops from European countries.
French President Macron also emphasized the need for Europe to increase its defense spending and called on European countries to be prepared for future challenges.
At the same time, the conflict between Zelensky and Trump could affect relations between Ukraine and Western countries.
Now, how these peace initiatives between Europe and the US will unfold and the future of the Russia-Ukraine war will largely depend on the outcomes of the negotiations.
