Macron visits Scholz in Berlin to discuss Ukraine

French President calls for arming Ukraine to strike Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has travelled to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and discuss the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the meeting, Macron called for Ukraine to be allowed to use Western weapons to strike military sites in Russia, becoming the most senior Western leader to make such a proposal.

Macron said not ruling out sending Western troops to Ukraine is aimed at re-establishing strategic ambiguity to make Russia reconsider.

Macron also said that he does not want to see Russia crushed by a defeat in Ukraine, and that he believes a deal to avoid full-scale war is possible. However, he stressed that it is legitimate for Russia to raise security concerns, and that any deal must take these concerns into account.

Macron's comments come as Western leaders grapple with how to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Some have called for a more aggressive approach, including providing Ukraine with more weapons and even sending Western troops to fight alongside Ukrainian forces. Others have urged caution, arguing that such moves could lead to a wider conflict between Russia and the West.