Macron: Whether to Honor Sanctions Pledge Is a Test of American Credibility
French President Macron said on Friday that if Russia refuses to cease fire in Ukraine, the decision on whether or not to sanction Russia would be a "credibility test" for the United States led by Trump. Moscow has rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire and continues to bomb Ukraine intensively, even as diplomatic efforts to end the war have gained momentum.
On Sunday night, U.S. President Trump unusually criticized Russian President Putin, calling him "crazy." However, Trump has yet to follow through on his previous threats to impose new sanctions on Moscow.
During his visit to Singapore, Macron told the media that if Russia "confirms it is not ready for peace," Washington must confirm its "commitment" to sanctioning Moscow, emphasizing that this is a "test of American credibility."
"Two days ago, I spoke with President Trump, who expressed his impatience," Macron said while meeting with reporters alongside Singapore's Prime Minister Heng Chee Hahn. "The question now is: What do we do? We (Europe) are ready."
Macron will deliver a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore on Friday. The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's main annual security and defense conference, where Ukrainian President Zelensky delivered a speech last year.
This week, Macron said he believes Trump now realizes that Putin's claim of being ready for peace in Ukraine is a lie, hoping that Trump's anger can translate into action.
Macron said it is time to pressure Russia with "greater sanctions" to persuade it to end the war that began in 2022. On May 10, Macron and other European leaders visited Kyiv, issuing an ultimatum to Moscow demanding a ceasefire.
In addition, Singapore and France have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Macron's visit. The two countries will deepen cooperation in emerging fields such as decarbonization, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. This announcement was made at a joint press conference by Heng and Macron on Friday.
Officials exchanged 13 documents, including agreements, memorandums of understanding, and letters of intent, under the witness of Heng and Macron, to deepen cooperation in multiple fields such as nuclear energy, digital and artificial intelligence, defense, security, vocational and technical education, extradition frameworks, aviation, and maritime affairs.
Heng said that France was the first European country to establish a strategic partnership with Singapore, laying the foundation for close cooperation between the two countries in areas such as defense, trade, cybersecurity, and education. "This is the first comprehensive strategic partnership established between Singapore and a European country, reflecting the high level of mutual trust between the two nations and the potential for greater achievements," Heng stated.
Source: rfi
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833585404237832/
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