French Foreign minister says Putin trying to bypass EU over Ukraine by talking solely to U.S.

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister said that Russia was trying to bypass the European Union by holding talks directly with the United States over Ukraine. Where Moscow has moved nearly 100,000 troops close to its border with its neighbour, France’s foreign minister said on Friday.

Talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats will start in Geneva on Monday after weeks of tensions over Russian troop deployments near its border with neighbouring Ukraine, with envoys on each side trying to avert a crisis. 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to bypass the European Union… he wants to put dents in the EU cohesion, which is solidifying”, Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM TV and RMC Radio.

“You can’t envisage EU security without the Europeans.” France has just taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU.

French President Emmanuel Macron later told a news conference that he was planning to have discussions with Putin soon, to discuss topics including Ukraine – but he gave no details and did not say when that could take place.

Talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats will begin in Geneva on Monday after a weeks long stand-off over Russian troop deployments near its border with Ukraine, with veteran envoys on each side trying to avert a crisis.

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