French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that the European allies are preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia “in coordination with the United States.” Speaking from Tirana, Albania, Macron disclosed that US President Donald Trump intends to “hold discussions with the Russian side in the coming hours or days” to push forward negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. Additionally, he reiterated his support for “an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.” Furthermore, the French leader addressed the situation in Gaza, describing it as “unbearable,” and expressed hope that he will discuss the war in the Palestinian enclave with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “soon.”
Macron: Moscow ‘buying time’ to continue war
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to respond to the “unconditional ceasefire” proposal shows that Moscow is not ready for peace and is “merely trying to buy time by continuing the war.” “In this context, as the European Political Community gathers for a summit in Tirana, we will continue to coordinate with our European partners, the United States, and the Coalition of the Willing to define a united response,” he wrote in a post on X. European leaders previously held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterating that his country remains ready to negotiate and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisting that Russia’s stance is “clearly unacceptable.”