This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
French President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious strategy to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine is set to face its first major test in a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday.
Joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron has invested heavily in efforts to bring peace to the region, which has claimed 13,000 lives since 2014.
Macron's strategy, which involves direct engagement with Putin, is based on the assumption that Russia will eventually see Europe as a long-term strategic partner.
"It is an important test for Macron and for the Europeans," said Michel Duclos, a former ambassador and senior fellow at the Institut Montaigne, a French think tank.
"He is already very isolated. And if he obtains nothing on Ukraine he is going to be even more isolated," Duclos added.
Macron's comments on Russia have been met with skepticism by some EU members, who want a tougher line against their former master. However, Macron remains committed to his strategy, which he believes will ultimately lead to a partnership between Europe and Russia.
"Who is NATO's enemy? Russia is no longer an enemy. It remains a threat but is also a partner on some subjects," Macron said in a recent interview.
Macron's summit with Putin and Zelensky comes at a critical time, with the stakes high and the potential for a major breakthrough or failure.
