Next few days to be crucial for stabilization, de-escalation - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron says the coming days will be vital to stabilizing the situation and achieving de-escalation around Ukraine’s borders.

The French leader addressed the issue at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow after their nearly six-hour meeting on Monday, February 7.

Macron stressed that the further escalation is neither in Russia’s nor in Europe’s interests.

"We need to agree on specific measures in order to stabilize the situation and achieve de-escalation. We discussed it together. This should be confirmed in the coming days and weeks. It will depend on negotiations and consultations with the United States, NATO, the Europeans, as well as our meeting with President Zelensky tomorrow," Macron said late Monday.

"And I’d like to say that Russian President Putin has said he is ready to follow this logic, saying that there should be a balance in these initiatives, including raising the issue of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

"So the next few days will be decisive, and these close discussions that have taken place will contribute to this end," said the French leader.

"We are now aware of how serious the situation is and are seeking a way to preserve peace. I deeply believe that there’s still time," he said.

According to Macron, "we are willing to work together to guarantee a new order of stability and security in Europe," and in this sense, Russia has been offered "concrete security guarantees."

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