Failure of Normandy summit will harm Macron's prestige - France 24

This is stated in an article published by France 24 on December 9 - the day of the Normandy Format summit in Paris with the participation of the leaders of France, Ukraine, Germany, and Russia, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"If Putin and Zelensky fail to agree to concrete confidence-building steps during talks at the Elysee, it would be seen as a major blow to hopes for peace and also to Macron's personal prestige," the article reads.

It notes that Macron has adopted an increasingly assertive presence on the international stage in recent months, at a time when Germany is a less imposing diplomatic player as Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to leave office.

"Zelensky's room to maneuver during Monday's talks will be limited," the article reads.

At the same time, according to the report, Moscow's priority is to maintain influence in Ukraine, insisting, in particular, on the issue of autonomy and the holding of elections in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

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