The initial US-Russia draft peace plan circulated in November sparked consternation in Kyiv and around Europe.
As well as being heavily slanted towards Moscow’s demands, it also dictated how several billion in frozen Russian assets currently held in European financial institutions should be invested, as well as setting the terms for Ukrainian market access in Europe.
Speaking on Monday, Macron said there was currently “no finalised peace plan to speak of”, and insisted that any such proposal could only be worked out with input from Ukraine and Europe.
Macron said the question of territorial concessions could “only be finalised by President Zelensky”, and pointed out that questions around frozen Russian assets, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s accession to the EU needed to involve European nations.
The French leader also praised efforts by the Trump administration to end the conflict, which began in 2014 with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, followed by a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said this week could be “pivotal”, but that Moscow only wanted to negotiate “with those who are just offering them something on top of what they already have”.
She continued: “I’m afraid all the pressure will be put on the weaker side because that is the easier way to stop this war when Ukraine surrenders, but this is not in anybody’s interest.”