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Russia playing no positive role for international community: French president

23 June 2023 16:12 (UTC +04:00)

The French president said on Friday that currently, Russia is not playing a positive role in the international community, APA reports citing Anadolu.

Emmanuel Macron made the remark during an interview with French broadcasters Franceinfo, France 24, and RFI on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, when asked if "Russia is still an enemy, especially in Africa."

“I do not like these terms which are definitive because this is not diplomacy,” Macron replied, adding that Russia decided by itself to not respect international law and become a colonial power in this century by waging a war against neighboring Ukraine.

“Russia is also a power of destabilization in Africa through private militias which are predators. It abuses the civilian populations through the Wagner group, as documented by the United Nations in the Central African Republic.”

When reminded that Russia did not attend the summit, the president said that all the countries that were needed to tackle the climate issues were there.

"Russia must first stop the war and agree to respect international law," he further said.

Asked about possible contact with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the French leader said: "I have no reason to call him today. There is a counter-offensive and the time will come for negotiations on the terms of Ukraine. On the other hand, if he calls me to suggest something, I'll take it, because France has always been a facilitating and mediating power."

Macron explained that resuming the dialogue is only possible if Moscow respects international law.