In a farewell speech to ambassadors at the Élysée Palace on Monday, January 6, Emmanuel Macron called on Ukrainians to "hold realistic discussions on territorial issues", as "only they can lead them", to find a solution to the conflict caused by russia's invasion in 2022.
"The United States of America must help us change the nature of the situation and persuade russia to come to the negotiating table", while Europeans will have to "build security guarantees" for Ukraine, "which will be their top priority", - France's president was quoted as saying by BFMTV.
The French president also warned that under current conditions, "there will be no quick and easy solution in Ukraine", despite newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump promising a swift resolution if he assumes office.
"The new American president knows himself that the United States has no chance of winning if Ukraine loses", and "Ukraine's capitulation cannot be good for Europeans or Americans", - the French president said during his meeting with French ambassadors.
He also stated that "trust" in the West would be "undermined" if it agreed to a "compromise" out of "fatigue" over the conflict.