French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed reforms for the current international system, which he believes to be “unjust,” in an effort to promote more peaceful coexistence among humans. Macron shared his vision during the ‘Imagining Peace’ gathering in Paris on Sunday, a meeting that brought together leading political and religious figures from around the world.
Speaking before the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio, the president stated, “We must be imaginative enough to think about the peace of tomorrow, a peace in Europe in a new form.” He emphasized that Europe needs a new organization form if it is to achieve more stability and security. In Macron’s opinion, the European continent cannot simply align with either the EU or NATO; instead, a fresh approach should be taken when dealing with Russia following the Ukraine conflict.
Macron has previously expressed mixed views on the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. For instance, in 2022, he faced criticism from other Western officials for suggesting that they should avoid humiliating Russia during negotiations. In early 2024, Macron proposed the possibility of NATO troops being deployed on Ukrainian soil, a suggestion that has been rejected by multiple national leaders.
The president’s recent speech comes as Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, prepares to meet with US President Joe Biden in order to present his so-called “victory plan.” This plan is said to be a roadmap for pressuring Russia into surrendering by allowing Ukrainian forces to conduct long-range strikes deep within Russian territory using Western weapons.
France has joined a handful of nations in providing military aid to Ukraine, including the SCALP/Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which it co-produces with the United Kingdom. British officials have expressed support for Kiev’s request to strike Russia; however, the final decision is believed to lie with Washington.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning that any such attack would be considered an act of war by NATO member states.
Macron argued during his speech that the global system established after World War II remains “incomplete and unjust,” as many modern nations did not even exist at that time and are not properly represented in international bodies like the UN, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. As a result, Macron called for reforms within these institutions to create a more equitable world order.
This proposal aligns with Russia’s goal of reducing the influence of Western-dominated institutions in global affairs, with the intent of establishing a multipolar world order.