Joe Biden is willing to talk to Vladimir Putin "if he shows signs of wanting to end the war" e Emmanuel Macron prepares for December 13 in Paris a conference to support Ukraine which could become the first port of one peace conference and dialogue on war. It is one of the central points of the long press release in which the two presidents gave an account of the outcome of Macron's state visit during which the French president raised strong points on theInflation Reduction Act (IRA) without however being able to obtain substantial corrections from the American president.
Russia-Ukraine: Biden and Macron open to dialogue "if Putin really wants to end the war"
In their meeting at the White House, the first state visit of the Biden era, Emmanuel Macron and the American president projected an image of unquestioned friendship, between pats on the back and a conviviality also embraced by the two first ladies, but they frankly discussed their differences. The visit culminated in the apotheosis of a gala dinner at the White House with 200 Maine lobsters offered to 350 guests in tuxedos and long dresses, including astronaut Sophie Adenot, director Claude Lelouch, the luxury billionaire (Lvmh ) Bernard Arnault, fashion queen Anna Wintour and actress Jennifer Garner, in a White House full of Christmas decorations.
The hand extended to Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly a central point of agreement between the two countries on the thorny issue of the Russian war in Ukraine, a country devastated by invasion and bombing, at the gates of a freezing winter. At the end of the meeting in the oval room, which lasted over two hours, the long press release ratified the common positions. In first place is the commitment to guarantee aid to Kiev "as long as necessary" without imposing peace and to prosecute Moscow's war crimes. Macron, also in view of the international conference in Paris on 13 December to collect aid for Kiev, he continues to keep the door open for Putin, with whom he has announced that he wants to speak in the coming days, convinced that "negotiations are still possible". And Biden himself reiterated at the press conference that he was "ready to talk to Putin if he shows signs of wanting to end the war", while specifying that he "has not done so so far". On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Lavrov opened a window by quoting John Kerry as an intermediary welcome to the Kremlin.
Precisely on the merits of the ongoing war, Italy has voted in Parliament the continuation of the aid to Ukraine until the end of 2023, in the wake of the previous Draghi government decree on the matter.
Biden-Macron: Inflation Reduction Act also in talks
The French leader made no secret of considering the Inflation Reduction Act, the law desired by Biden which allocates tax subsidies and bonuses for American industry in view of the energy transition, a real vulnerability in relations in the West. The law provides for $370 billion in aid and is considered by Macron a “super aggressive” plan capable of causing cascading relocations from Europe to the benefit of the United States, creating a rift in the western axis. "The choices that have been made are choices that lead to the fragmentation of the West", said the French president during the his official visit.
Faced with the frankness of the charge, the American response was lukewarm. “The United States does not apologize and I don't have to apologise of a law that I myself wanted", said Biden, specifying however that it was not his intention to damage Europe or get the United States back on track at Europe's expense" and that "adjustments can be made to involve the countries more Europeans". Words immediately picked up by Emmanuel Macron, who for his part urged Europe to "go faster and stronger" to have "the same industrial ambition" as the United States.
It was decided to discuss “practical measures for synchronize approaches” on the supply chain and the green economy, come on semiconductors athydrogen and car's battery performance for electric cars. The two presidents have pledged to implement a ecological transition "mutually beneficial", strengthening the partnership between the US and the EU on energy and climate. Among the hypotheses, according to press sources, also some exemptions for European companies.
Biden-Macron: soft on China, hard on Iran
The final communiqué is softer towards China. The “continuation of coordination on concerns regarding China's challenges to the international order, including human rights”, but also collaboration on global issues such as climate change. On this dossier, France did not want a hard line, sharing the more open one of the EU.
Instead, Biden and Macron have raised a wall against Iran, promising that they will prevent Tehran from reaching thenuclear weapon and demonstrating "respect" for the protests of the Iranian people, especially the "courageous" protests of young people and women.
Last updated at 9:36am on Friday 2nd December
