On Friday, April 16, Russia called on Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Volodymyr Selensky to withdraw their troops from the Ukrainian border.

German, French and Ukrainian leaders share a video conference “Their Concerns About the Rise of Russian Troops on the Border of Ukraine and the Occupied Crimea”. They also demanded that it be withdrawn “These Strengthening of Soldiers to Achieve Intensity”, According to a joint statement sent by the German Chancellor.

The French president received the Ukrainian counterpart at the Elysee Palace on Friday in the wake of strong tensions with Moscow in Crimea. The two heads of state met with the German Chancellor via video conference.

M.^I Merkel and M. Macron also has “Underlined their support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”, as well as “The need for full implementation of the Minsk agreements on both sides”, Paris and Berlin adds a press release assuring “Will their efforts continue within the framework of the Normandy format?”, Quadrilateral conversation with Kiev and Moscow.

Vladimir Selensky has called for a summit that would bring together Vladimir Putin (Russian President), Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel. “I want the four of us to attend.”, To discuss “Security situation in eastern Ukraine” Stopping “Employment [son] Area “, He said.

Ukraine wants to join NATO

For several weeks, clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass (eastern Ukraine) have been escalating, with tens of thousands of Russian troops deployed nearby, threatening a large-scale military operation. The West has warned Russia against such demonstrations.

In the wake of the new instability, seven years after Russia’s occupation of Crimea, the conflict in the Donbass has not been resolved, but Volodymyr Selensky calls for increased European support, given the concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border. The Ukrainian president is seeking his country’s membership in NATO and the European Union.

“We cannot remain indefinitely in the EU or the NATO waiting room.”, by Volodymyr Zelensky In an interview In the French national newspaper Le Figaro. “If we belong to the same family, we should live together. We can never go together like eternal fiancs, our relationship must be legalized, He drew the attention of Paris and Berlin.

However, NATO membership seems far-fetched in light of Russia’s hostility to such a situation and the reluctance of many Alliance member states, including France, to provoke Moscow. It is imaginary in terms of accession to the European Union. “We can support Ukraine (R), But that does not mean membership, it is not a serious prospect. “, Clement Boone, Secretary of State for European Affairs.

Moscow urges Kiev to stop “provocations”

Ahead of the tripartite meeting, Moscow on Friday called on Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel to put pressure on Ukrainian counterparts. Provocations From Kiev, east of the country. “Macron and Mister are very important to us.^I Merkel uses their influence during this video conference (…) To explain [à l’Ukraine] Possibility to end all provocations correctly ” Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidency, said.

Russia announced on Friday that it would limit the number of foreign ships in the three regions of Crimea until October. One of them is the export of grain or steel produced in Ukraine, near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of ​​Azov.

Since Joe Biden’s visit to the White House in January, tensions between the United States and Russia have been mounting, and tensions around Ukraine have escalated. The U.S. government announced a series on Thursday Economic sanctions Tough against Russia and the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats. On Wednesday evening, Angela Merkel and Joe Biden called on Russia to reduce its military presence on the Ukrainian border, which is seen as a direct link to the fighting in eastern Ukraine.