Mr. Macron proposed a global ceasefire during the Olympics 2
`We want to work towards an Olympic ceasefire agreement and I think this is an opportunity to discuss with our partners about this,` French President Emmanuel Macron announced on April 15, referring to the conflict in Ukraine and the Strip.
President Macron said that when President Xi Jinping visits France in early May, he will ask Chinese leaders for support to push the parties to reach a ceasefire agreement during the Olympics.
French President Emmanuel Macron in Marseille in June 2023.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of this event and met President Xi Jinping on February 4, 2022, about 20 days before Russia launched the campaign in Ukraine.
US and European intelligence officials said that China already knew about Russia’s plans and asked Moscow not to act until the Beijing Olympics ended.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the information, saying this was an attempt to `shift blame and smear` Beijing.
The `Olympic ceasefire` is a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece, when conflicting parties agreed to lay down their arms during the event so that athletes and spectators could arrive and leave.
President Macron first mentioned the idea of establishing an Olympic ceasefire in March, when he proposed that Russia accept a ceasefire with Ukraine on this occasion.
President Putin later said he was not informed about his counterpart Macron’s proposal.
Meanwhile, Israel has repeatedly affirmed that its military will continue its campaign in the Gaza Strip until it defeats all Hamas members and rescues all hostages, despite the international community’s efforts to call for a ceasefire.
Mr. Macron has not revealed what he will do to convince Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to accept a ceasefire during the Paris Olympics.
French soldiers patrol the streets of Paris on March 13.
The 33rd Summer Olympics will take place in Paris, France from July 26 to August 11 this year.
France plans to deploy 45,000 police, 20,000 private security officers and 15,000 soldiers every day during the two-week event.
