Macron warns of serious repercussions for Russia if it invades Ukraine

PARIS (Parliament Politics Magazine): Emmanuel Macron has stated that France and Germany are working together to alleviate tensions over the Russia-Ukraine security issue.

In case of an assault, he warned, there will be retaliation, and the cost (to Russia) will be quite significant.

On his first visit to Germany since the election last year, the French President spoke at a joint press conference with Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor. 

He said they were simultaneously preparing the shared reaction and response in the case of an assault, saying that the West was completely unified and renewing its joint call for tensions to be de-escalated.

On Friday, Macron stated that he would speak with the Russian President over the phone. A dialogue will also take place, according to the Kremlin. In the coming days, French President Emmanuel Macron plans to present a “road map for de-escalation.”

On Wednesday, Paris will host a conference of top advisers from Germany, Ukraine and Russia in the “Normandy format,” in an attempt to resurrect a dialogue that began in 2014 but has since died. Macron said, to surrender is to admit that the political atmosphere is no longer on the table, adding that the negotiations will generate good expectations.

When asked about Germany’s unwillingness to supply armaments to Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz said the country was acting on a principle “stemming naturally from the evolution of these past years and decades”, a decision tied to Germany’s role in WWII.

Although Russia has denied plans for an attack, it has amassed about 100,000 troops in recent weeks near Ukraine, prompting the US and its NATO partners to hurry to prepare for a war that could possibly happen.

Several attempts of high-stakes diplomacy have not been successful in achieving any results, and tensions have risen even higher this week.

Biden: Sanctions could be aimed at Putin

On Tuesday, Washington concentrated on the penalties that would be imposed on Russia — and even Vladimir Putin — if Ukraine was invaded.

When asked if sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin may be considered, US Vice President Joe Biden said “yes.”

Meanwhile, the US and European countries have taken steps to preserve European gas supplies if Russia decides to shut them off if a conflict breaks out in Ukraine, according to a statement released by Washington on Tuesday.

Senior White House officials suggested that western allies were considering diversification of supplies from other nations, warning that if Russia attempted to “weaponize” the supply of gas, it would face “consequences.”