Belgium: Macron calls for end to bombardments in east Ukraine at EU-African Union summit

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French president Emmanuel Macron has called for the end to heavy shelling in east Ukraine at the EU-Africa summit in Brussels on Friday.

“The situation in the Donbass in the past few hours is very worrying. There have apparently already been several victims,” Macron said.

This comes as the east Ukrainian conflict zone saw the heaviest artillery bombardments in years, with separatists and Kiev pointing fingers at each other. Some fear it could be used as a pretext for a Russian invasion.

“We do not have proof of Russia’s military disengagement at this stage. I hear President Putin’s declarations. I welcome President Putin’s declarations. But I consider that if one is to be a reliable partner, then actions must match these words and we want to have concrete elements in accordance with this,” Macron said.

Earlier on Friday, East Ukrainian separatists declared a mass evacuation to Russia, worsening fears of a new war in Europe.

Russia has denied plans to invade.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): “The situation in the Donbas in the past few hours is very worrying. There have apparently already been several victims first and foremost, my thoughts are with the people and families who were affected. To be very clear, there have been a multiplication of acts of violence. These acts must stop. They go against the agreements that were signed and the ceasefire that was until now respected by all parties that had again recently reiterated that they would adhere to. It is up to our teams and the OSCE (Organisation for the Security and Cooperation in Europe) to shed light on the events of these past hours and past days.”

SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): “We do not have proof of Russia’s military disengagement at this stage. I hear President Putin’s declarations. I welcome President Putin’s declarations. But I consider that if one is to be a reliable partner, then actions must match these words and we want to have concrete elements in accordance with this. In this context of ongoing Russian military pressure with increased acts of destabilization and the resumption of bombings in the zone of contact, firstly, we call for the end of military action and swift de-escalation, secondly, we call for a return to constructive negotiations because we still believe that this situation can be resolved through dialogue.”

SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): “I consider that we all need to stay very calm. We have made clear that we were united and what we wanted. I heard the Russian president’s words, actions now need to be taken in accordance. We need to work with precision and dedication in favour of stabilisation and de-escalation with Russia, it’s essential.”

SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): “France announced yesterday, in agreement with its committed European partners, decided to restructure our deployment in this, after a long week of joint work and consultations in agreement with our African neighbours and African partners. This decision which is due to the developing political situation and sovereign choices by the ruling junta in Mali, this will apply in good order so that during this period we can ensure the security of MINUSMA (United Nations Peacekeeping) and the security of all our forces currently deployed in Mali and I will not make any concessions on their security for even a second.”

SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): “I think all this must be done in a respectful way, because for nine years now, Mali has been supporting Mali has been training, equipping and accompanying the Malian army. Our deployment will be a few kilometers from the borders of Niger and we will continue to cooperate in our efforts to fight terrorism. I hope nobody in the region will forget that the key priority was fighting terrorism.”

#UkrainianCrisis #Macron

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