Feb 7, 2022: French President Emmanuel Macron is set to travel to Moscow to secure commitments from Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease tensions in Ukraine.

Ahead of Monday’s visit, the French leader said he hoped to “discuss the terms of a de-escalation” during his talks with Putin. During his visit, the French president hopes to head off a military conflict in Ukraine with high-risk diplomatic mission to Moscow.

Following a visit to Moscow, Macron will again travel to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Tuesday for talks with President Vladimir Zelensky. Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, demanding security guarantees from the United States and NATO, including assurance that NATO membership will be rejected to Ukraine.

However, it has denied any plans to attack. The United States and NATO have called Russia’s demands a non-starter, and Washington has deployed thousands of additional troops in Eastern Europe. White House National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan warned Sunday that Putin could order an attack on Ukraine in days or weeks.

Macron on the other hand, who also spoke to Joe Biden ahead of the trip to Moscow as part of a “coordination logic” – has downplayed the likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and said his negotiations with Putin are likely to head off a military conflict.

Speaking to France’s Le Journal de Dimanche, the French President said, “The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the European Union, The intensity of the dialogue we have had with Russia and this visit to Moscow are likely to prevent [a military operation] from happening. Then we will discuss the terms of de-escalation.”

He did however caution against over-optimism and said there was a need to be realistic and that no unilateral demands from Russia will be accepted.

Macron who is known for his highly publicized diplomatic forays, hopes to take on the mantle of European leadership in this crisis,and will consult with other Western leaders, including the UK’s Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden.

In a call on Sunday, President Macron and Biden “discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” according to a White House statement.

They also “affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.

According to a report by Reuters, Macron’s trip to Moscow was planned in coordination with Washington and Berlin. As Macron and Putin meet in Moscow, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet Biden in Washington.

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