EU should discuss with Russia as an alternative to sanctions: French President Emmanuel Macron

Paris: – French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) on Russia have not served the purpose. Therefore, instead of imposing sanctions, the EU should reconsider its stance regarding Russia. The French President has appealed when the EU and Russia are pitched against each other over the Belarus issue. In the past, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had taken a stand to cooperate with Russia.

President Macron said that there is a need to change the outlook of the EU regarding Russia while speaking to the media after the EU meeting held in Brussels. EU imposed sanctions against Russia over the Navalny issue. Macron pointed out that these sanctions did not have any effect on Russia. President Macron presented his frank stand on the questions posed to him on the Navalny issue. Macron asked questions- ‘What do you wish to do against Russia? Do you want a military conflict with Russia? Or should the relations should be completely severed and sanctions should be imposed? Till when this will all continue?’ At the same time, saying ‘The time has come to accept the realities regarding the Russian relations.’ President Macron clarified that there is a need to make changes to the foreign policy of the EU.

The Russian objectives regarding Europe will become clear if discussions are held with the Russian President. The French President suggested that the EU can take a specific stand after that. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had appealed, in the past, to establish cooperation with Russia. At the same time, Germany also had justified cooperation in the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project.

But the countries in the EU are not willing to make amends with Russia. Instead, the EU has appealed that Germany, France, and Italy should withdraw their Russian Arctic LNG-2 project investments. Some EU members claimed that investment in the Russian projects is not safe and against the EU’s policies. Reports are being received that Russia has started blocking European countries over the Belarus issue. It is being accused that the flights not passing through the Belarus airspace are being denied entry into Russia.