Macron says Putin refuses to negotiate as war enters fifth year

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on November 15, 2026, that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not wish to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The conflict has now entered its fifth year. President Emmanuel Macron noted that the Russian military is not advancing but is instead losing territory and suffering significant losses.

The French President characterized recent Russian attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure as an attempt to leave Ukraine in darkness before winter. President Emmanuel Macron warned that reducing aid to Ukraine would force an unjust peace and leave the country vulnerable.

Diplomatic efforts in Moscow and Ireland

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow following trilateral negotiations held in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, 2026. Following the Moscow meeting, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Ireland to attend the European Political Community and the European Union summit held on November 13 and 14, 2026. During the summit in Ireland, the U.S. envoys met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the Dublin summit, leaders decided that representatives from France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Poland will participate in future negotiations to end the war. While discussing the conflict, President Vladimir Putin stated to American negotiators that the deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement is unacceptable and would restart the war.

Security guarantees and territorial concerns

A coalition of willing European states is working on security guarantees for Ukraine. These guarantees may include an international force to be deployed on Ukrainian territory after hostilities end. This potential deployment remains a point of contention, as President Vladimir Putin has explicitly rejected the presence of foreign troops in the region following any potential peace agreement.

The geopolitical landscape remains complex regarding territorial sovereignty. Bernardinai reported that Washington suggested Ukraine cede territories to Moscow in exchange for NATO membership. This specific detail regarding the suggestion from Washington has not been confirmed by other sources.

As the war continues into its fifth year, European leaders are focusing on long-term stability. The current efforts by a coalition of European states aim to establish a framework that prevents further aggression against Ukraine through formal security arrangements.

Glossary

• European Political Community — The European Political Community was a proposed institution intended to tie together the institutions of the developing European community. It was part of an attempt to create political communities alongside the proposed European Defence Community.
• NATO — NATO is an international organization that Slovakia sought to join. It is mentioned in relation to the potential membership of Ukraine.