“Peace must be built in Ukraine without embarrassing Russia”, said Emmanuel Macron in the first speech of his new term

From the European Parliament in Strasbourg and while holding the pro tempore presidency of the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron chose this outline to recite his first speech of his “new” government after being “re -elected”.

On the same day that President Vladimir Putin celebrated “Victory Day” in Red Square, Macron traveled to the closing ceremony of the Conference on the Future of Europe, an extensive citizen consultation at the European Union level.

The idea is to “rethink” Europe. “The European Union may not be the only way of developing the continent of Europe,” he said. And he spoke about a “new organization” that will welcome primarily Ukraine.

“Ukraine for its struggle and its courage is already a heartfelt member of our union”, hopes Macron, who haven’t visited kyiv yet.

“On May 9, freedom and hope for the future have the face of the EU. It is in the name of this freedom and this hope that we we will continue to support Ukraine, its president and to the entire Ukrainian people, ”he declared.

In front of European lawmakers, the French head of state said he was “in favor” of a revision of agreements with the European Union and that peace should be built in Ukraine, “without embarrassing Russia”.

The head of state mentioned his work priorities for the EU, before making a late-afternoon jump to Berlin for his first diplomatic visit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“We need to reform our texts, it’s obvious. One of the forms of this reform is the calling of a treaty revision convention. This is a proposal from the European Parliament and I approved it, “the French president told lawmakers in his first speech in Europe since his re -election. He suggested that 27 leaders discuss it at their summit. in June.

The President of the European Commission, Úrsula von der Leyen, also spoke for a change of agreements with the EU, “if necessary”, and the abandonment of the united vote of 27 member countries in key areas.

“Europe must play a bigger role, for example in health or defense. And we must continue to improve the functioning of our democracy,” he said. “I have always been on the side of those who want to reform the EU to make it better, “Macron added.

“Our freedom is the condition of our freedom,” said Macron, who called for a reduction in the EU’s reliance on Russia’s energy.

Macron found a formula in scarcity: “stay open without hope” in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.

“Because of the war in Ukraine and our desire to get out of power, we need to invest in green energy”, Announced the new president of France.

Will Ukraine be European? Yes, but in a new way. The president of France also called for the creation of a “European political community”, to greet Ukraine in particular, the target of Russia’s offensive within two months. This will be done in conjunction with a procedure for the country’s accession to the European Union, which will take “decades”.

“This new European organization will allow democratic European countries, adhering to our core values, to find a new space for political cooperation, security and cooperation,” explains Emmanuel Macron.

When Russia celebrated victory against Nazi Germany in 1945 on Monday with a military parade in various cities of the country and Putin in Red Square, Emmanuel Macron again condemned the country’s offensive in Ukraine.

“Russia has promised heinous crime in Ukraine”, Denounced the French president, assuring that, however,“ it is not at war ”against Moscow.

Considering that “freedom and hope” is the “face” of the EU, he changed his support for Ukraine and stressed the role of the EU to safeguard “peace in Europe”, to avoid escalation at all of costs “.

“We will be there for rebuild Ukraine like the Europeansalways ”, guarantees Emmanuel Macron.

“When peace returns to the land of Europe, together we must not succumb to temptation, shame or the spirit of revenge, because they have so badly damaged the paths of peace in the past,” he said in relation to Russia.

“Tomorrow we will have peace, let’s not forget. We will do this with Ukraine and Russia around the table. But it will not be in denial or in the exclusion of the other or even in humiliation ”, the president declared, in a subsequent press conference.

two faces

At the same conference, Macron said that “two different faces of May 9” were presented, the day of Europe and the armistice of Russia in 1945.

“On the one hand is the will of a display of force, of intimidation and speech of the warrior, and here is a people’s organization for a project of peace, of stability, to think about our future with our differences, with our expressed languages ​​”, he assured.

Macron called a “stronger and more sovereign” Europe. But there are a dozen states that oppose changing the agreements because they believe Europe is working and they have already shown it in the COVID epidemic.

As is tradition, President Macron traveled to Berlin to strengthen the Franco-German axis and meet with Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz.

Paris, correspondent

ap