Macron: "We want Russia to lose, but prefer negotiation over crushing"

"France does not want to attack even Russian territory"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] French President Emmanuel Macron said that while he wants Russia to be defeated in its invasion of Ukraine, France's position is not to crush Russia completely.

President Macron made these remarks during an interview with weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, daily Le Figaro, and France Inter radio on his way back to France after attending the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, media outlets reported on the 18th (local time).

He said, "I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and for Ukraine to be able to hold its position, but I am convinced that a military conclusion to this effect is not possible," adding, "The mobilization effect is not as great as expected, so neither side can achieve a complete victory."

He continued, "I do not think, as some do, that Russia must be completely defeated by attacks on its own territory," and added, "These people want above all to crush Russia, but that is not France's position and never will be."

President Macron said, "What Ukraine needs today is a military offensive to disrupt the Russian front so that Russia can return to negotiations," drawing a line by saying that the idea of taking revenge on Russia in the process of resolving the conflict should be excluded.

French President Emmanuel Macron. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

It is interpreted that once Ukraine, resisting the Russian invasion, gains a favorable position with Western support including from France, then negotiations with Russia should follow.

President Macron, who initially sought a diplomatic solution with Russia at the start of the war, said in a speech at the opening of the Munich Security Conference on the 17th, "Now is not the time to talk with Russia."

He said that if the day comes when Ukraine and Russia negotiate, the Russian side would have to talk with President Vladimir Putin, adding, "Within the current Russian regime, all options other than Vladimir Putin seem worse to me."

France Inter mentioned Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private mercenary company Wagner Group, as "all other options to replace the Kremlin chief" referred to by President Macron.

He questioned, "Honestly, do you think a democratic solution will emerge in Russian society amid such conflict?" and added, "I sincerely want that, but seeing Russia becoming more hardline over the past few years, I do not believe it will happen."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.