French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar on March 27. EPA
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar on March 27. EPA
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar on March 27. EPA
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar on March 27. EPA

World

Europe

France says world powers must keep talking with Vladimir Putin

Russian leader 'has not had the results he thought he would', says France's foreign minister

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

March 27, 2022

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International powers must keep talking with Russia's President Vladimir Putin until he is ready to end his invasion of Ukraine, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday.

Mr Le Drian told a conference in Qatar that Mr Putin had not achieved any of his aims, but that there had to be a ceasefire around the bombarded Ukrainian city of Mariupol before there could be negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to speak with Mr Putin this week about a ceasefire.

"We must keep talking with the Russians, we must continue to speak with President Putin precisely because he has not had the results he thought he would," Mr Le Drian told the Doha Forum.

He said the Russian invasion had united Ukraine and given a new impetus to the EU and Nato, while Russia was losing major markets for its energy exports.

The dialogue has to be "clear, with no naivety and a lot of firmness", Mr Le Drian said.

There has to be a ceasefire in Mariupol "as no one can negotiate seriously with a gun to the head", he said.

A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
A man walks past a residential area destroyed by a rocket strike in Kyiv. Getty Images
A man walks past a residential area destroyed by a rocket strike in Kyiv. Getty Images
Ukraine refugees wait in the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. More than 3.8 million have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion. AFP
Ukraine refugees wait in the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. More than 3.8 million have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion. AFP
Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training at a shooting range in Brno, Czech Republic. EPA
Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training at a shooting range in Brno, Czech Republic. EPA
A Ukrainian special police officer patrols near a destroyed building during the night curfew in Kharkiv. AP Photo
A Ukrainian special police officer patrols near a destroyed building during the night curfew in Kharkiv. AP Photo
A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the wreck of a Russian tank in Lukyanivka, Kyiv. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the wreck of a Russian tank in Lukyanivka, Kyiv. Reuters
Ukrainian Air Force jets take part in a defence drill over an unidentified location. Reuters
Ukrainian Air Force jets take part in a defence drill over an unidentified location. Reuters
Valentina Demura, 70, near the ruins of her home in apartment block in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
Valentina Demura, 70, near the ruins of her home in apartment block in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
A message of support for Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Reuters
A message of support for Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Reuters
The widow of sergeant Kostiantyn Deriuhin stands at her husband's grave after his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
The widow of sergeant Kostiantyn Deriuhin stands at her husband's grave after his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
A walk amid the ruins after a Russian attack in Byshiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A walk amid the ruins after a Russian attack in Byshiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A soldier of the Ukrainian territorial defence forces gives a salute during a break in digging a foxhole at Kalynivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A soldier of the Ukrainian territorial defence forces gives a salute during a break in digging a foxhole at Kalynivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A bust adorned with a headband in the colours of the Ukraine flag at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A bust adorned with a headband in the colours of the Ukraine flag at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
The Cheremosh Folk Song and Dance Ensemble performs in the streets of the Old Town in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty
The Cheremosh Folk Song and Dance Ensemble performs in the streets of the Old Town in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty
Eugene Grigorash says goodbye to his wife Victoria Grigorash and their seven-month-old son Roman as their bus leaves Lviv on its way to Poland. Getty
Eugene Grigorash says goodbye to his wife Victoria Grigorash and their seven-month-old son Roman as their bus leaves Lviv on its way to Poland. Getty
People head for an air raid shelter after sirens sound across Lviv in Ukraine. Getty
People head for an air raid shelter after sirens sound across Lviv in Ukraine. Getty
A pro-Ukraine rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA
A pro-Ukraine rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA
The aftermath of an air strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP
The aftermath of an air strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP
A protester weeps as she takes part in a 'mothers' march' for Ukraine, in New York. AFP
A protester weeps as she takes part in a 'mothers' march' for Ukraine, in New York. AFP
Local people share a basement of a historical building which is being used as a bomb shelter during an air raid warning in Lviv. EPA
Local people share a basement of a historical building which is being used as a bomb shelter during an air raid warning in Lviv. EPA
US President Joe Biden kisses a child while meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
US President Joe Biden kisses a child while meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
Municipal employees cover the city's monuments with sand bags to protect them from strikes in Kharkiv. AFP
Municipal employees cover the city's monuments with sand bags to protect them from strikes in Kharkiv. AFP
Misha, 5, who lost his mother some weeks ago and got injured during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress up in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv. AFP
Misha, 5, who lost his mother some weeks ago and got injured during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress up in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv. AFP
Ukrainian refugees rest in the ticket hall of Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
Ukrainian refugees rest in the ticket hall of Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
A woman walks past destroyed houses in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
A woman walks past destroyed houses in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
A man climbs up a ladder to examine his destroyed house in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
A man climbs up a ladder to examine his destroyed house in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
Damage inside an Orthodox Church building in Yasnohorodka, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Damage inside an Orthodox Church building in Yasnohorodka, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A Ukrainian soldier at a psychiatric hospital damaged by a Russian bombing, in Mykolaiv. AP
A Ukrainian soldier at a psychiatric hospital damaged by a Russian bombing, in Mykolaiv. AP
Displaced people from Dnipro arrive in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Millions are internally displaced. Getty Images
Displaced people from Dnipro arrive in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Millions are internally displaced. Getty Images
A destroyed school in Kharkiv. AFP
A destroyed school in Kharkiv. AFP
A Ukrainian fighter on the front line in the north Kyiv region. Reuters
A Ukrainian fighter on the front line in the north Kyiv region. Reuters
A resident walks past blazing buildings and vehicles after a Russian artillery strike in Kharkiv. AFP
A resident walks past blazing buildings and vehicles after a Russian artillery strike in Kharkiv. AFP
Black smoke billows from a fuel depot near Kyiv that was used by the Ukrainian Army before it was hit by during a Russian strike. AP
Black smoke billows from a fuel depot near Kyiv that was used by the Ukrainian Army before it was hit by during a Russian strike. AP
Masha, 26, checks her mobile phone at an air raid shelter inside a Kyiv metro station. Reuters
Masha, 26, checks her mobile phone at an air raid shelter inside a Kyiv metro station. Reuters
A market on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. AP
A market on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. AP
People try to recover items from a shop set on fire during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
People try to recover items from a shop set on fire during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
Nastya Kuzyk, 20, who was injured in an attack on Chernihiv, is comforted by her mother Svitlana, 50, as she recovers in a Kyiv hospital. AP
Nastya Kuzyk, 20, who was injured in an attack on Chernihiv, is comforted by her mother Svitlana, 50, as she recovers in a Kyiv hospital. AP

"But continue to speak to him so that when the time comes that he thinks the price being paid for his intervention in Ukraine is so high that it is better to negotiate, there is a way that allows the opening of discussions," Mr Le Drian said.

"It is for these reasons that President Macron continues to talk with President Putin, to obtain the conditions for a ceasefire first and negotiations after."

Mr Macron warned earlier against a verbal "escalation" of the conflict after US President Joe Biden called Mr Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power".

The Kremlin said Mr Biden's comments threatened bilateral relations.

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Saudi National Day
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

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France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

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Updated: March 28, 2022, 4:12 AM
FranceRussiaUkraineVladimir Putin