Paris. February 6. INTERFAX - French President Emmanuel Macron believes that the search for mutually acceptable solutions for European security should be conducted with respect and understanding of Russia.
"I have always maintained a deep dialogue with President Putin and our responsibility is to work out historical solutions. I believe that President Putin is ready for this," Macron said in an interview with the weekly newspaper Le Journal du dimanche.
He added that it was with this attitude that he was heading to Moscow on Monday.
"Russia's geopolitical goal today is clearly not Ukraine, but clarifying the rules of coexistence with NATO or the EU," the French president said.
In his opinion, an effective and sustainable dialogue between the West and Russia "cannot and should not take place through the weakening of any European state."
"Ensuring and guaranteeing the security of the Baltic States, Poland or Romania are important and priority. The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be the subject of any compromise, just as it is legitimate for Russia to raise the issue of its own security," the President continued.
"We, the Europeans, must control the period after the Cold War, because we have friends - sovereign European states that achieved their independence thirty years ago and who still live with fresh memories of traumatic relations with Russia," Macron believes.
According to him, it is necessary to protect "European brothers by offering a new balance capable of preserving their sovereignty and peace."
"This must be done at the same time with respect for Russia and understanding of the current traumas of this great people and this great country," the French president stressed.
Last Friday it was reported that Macron will visit Russia on February 7.
"Putin and Macron have agreed that Macron will be in Moscow on Monday. There will be Russian-French talks on Monday. And there will be a joint press conference," Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the head of the Russian state, told reporters at the time.
