The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had vowed not to launch any new “military initiatives” in Ukraine.
French officials said Putin made the promise during talks between Putin and Macron in Moscow on Monday. France also said Putin had agreed to recall thousands of Russian troops massed at Belarus’ border with Ukraine once exercises are finished there this month.
“I secured an assurance there would be no deterioration or escalation,” Macron said before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Macron said he had not expected Putin to make any “gestures” prior to the meeting, reiterating that the goal of the talks was to “prevent an escalation and open new perspectives. … That objective is met.”
French officials said the development “makes it possible to consider de-escalation.”
The Kremlin has denied reports that any sort of deal to de-escalate was reached with Macron, with Putin reminding the U.S. and NATO they had ignored Moscow’s demands. He indicated his readiness to continue discussions but again warned that Ukraine’s membership in NATO could trigger a war.
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