In an interview with the France-Presse agency, Jean-Noël Barrot says that Vladimir Putin is the “only obstacle” to peace in Ukraine
In the aftermath of the signing between Washington and kyiv of an agreement on minerals, the French diplomacy chief, Jean-Noël Barrot, who met his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, in Washington, granted an interview to the Agency France-Presse (AFP).
“It must be recognized, I believe that now is clear as rock water, that the only obstacle to peace in Ukraine today is Vladimir Putin”declares Mr. Barrot, recalling that Ukraine had “Hold on its market share”.
Ukraine “Accepted an unconditional ceasefire and yesterday she agreed to conclude an agreement on critical minerals with the United States which, according to the declarations of Ukrainian officials, corresponds, I would say, to the expectations which were those of Ukraine to engage with the United States, but also other countries, economic cooperation”argued Mr. Barrot.
“And, during this time, Russia of Vladimir Putin made no effort, has made no sign that she [étai]t ready for ceasefire and peace to which President Donald Trump aspires and to which Europeans aspire and of course Ukrainians ”he said.
He also explained that Europeans were preparing a seventeenth pack of sanctions against Russia. “I signed up yesterday [mercredi] with Lindsey Graham to what we tried to coordinate, both [quant à] the substance but also [quant au] calendar, these two packets of sanctions ”added the French minister in reference to the Republican senator who proposed this week to harden American sanctions against Moscow.