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| French Will Host Putin at D-Day Rites | French Will Host Putin at D-Day Rites |
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| PARIS — President François Hollande of France will use D-Day commemorations next week as an opportunity to assume a more direct diplomatic role in the Ukraine crisis, becoming the first European leader to meet face to face with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia since the Western effort to isolate him for his annexation of Crimea. | |
| Though Mr. Hollande and lower-ranking French officials have been in regular contact with Mr. Putin and his inner circle for months, the French have played a quieter role on Ukraine than the Germans and the Americans. Recently, Mr. Hollande joined Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on a phone call with Mr. Putin. | Though Mr. Hollande and lower-ranking French officials have been in regular contact with Mr. Putin and his inner circle for months, the French have played a quieter role on Ukraine than the Germans and the Americans. Recently, Mr. Hollande joined Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on a phone call with Mr. Putin. |
| Mr. Hollande’s scheduled meeting with the Russian president now constitutes the French president’s most prominent diplomatic foray into the Ukrainian crisis since it began. It follows France’s announcement that it would honor a deal worth 1.2 billion euros, or $1.6 billion, to deliver two Mistral-class warships to Russia even after its land grab in Ukraine, a decision that displeased France’s Western allies. | Mr. Hollande’s scheduled meeting with the Russian president now constitutes the French president’s most prominent diplomatic foray into the Ukrainian crisis since it began. It follows France’s announcement that it would honor a deal worth 1.2 billion euros, or $1.6 billion, to deliver two Mistral-class warships to Russia even after its land grab in Ukraine, a decision that displeased France’s Western allies. |
| “The dialogue with Russia was always maintained,” with a goal of “de-escalation,” according to a French diplomat with knowledge of the talks, speaking on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to describe them. | “The dialogue with Russia was always maintained,” with a goal of “de-escalation,” according to a French diplomat with knowledge of the talks, speaking on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to describe them. |
| Presidential officials said there were now plans for a bilateral meeting on the eve of the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings, which will be held on June 6. | Presidential officials said there were now plans for a bilateral meeting on the eve of the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings, which will be held on June 6. |
| Mr. Putin had long been scheduled to attend the events, leaving French officials with the choice of disinviting Mr. Putin to a solemn occasion that would in part honor the Allies’ World War II cooperation with Russia, or seeing the gesture through and, it seems, turning it into a chance to ease tensions with Russia. | Mr. Putin had long been scheduled to attend the events, leaving French officials with the choice of disinviting Mr. Putin to a solemn occasion that would in part honor the Allies’ World War II cooperation with Russia, or seeing the gesture through and, it seems, turning it into a chance to ease tensions with Russia. |
| A State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, seemed to support allowing the commemorations to go ahead as planned, when asked on May 8. “Well, our current differences over Ukraine notwithstanding, the fact remains, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union and many others united 70 years ago to defeat Nazism,” she said. “And this was a historic victory, and those who sacrificed to bring peace to Europe deserve to be honored as part of that.” | A State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, seemed to support allowing the commemorations to go ahead as planned, when asked on May 8. “Well, our current differences over Ukraine notwithstanding, the fact remains, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union and many others united 70 years ago to defeat Nazism,” she said. “And this was a historic victory, and those who sacrificed to bring peace to Europe deserve to be honored as part of that.” |
| Still, it remained unclear how thoroughly Mr. Hollande’s decision to use the occasion to meet with Mr. Putin was coordinated with American or other European officials, or whether they would interpret the move as undercutting the efforts to isolate the Russian leader. | Still, it remained unclear how thoroughly Mr. Hollande’s decision to use the occasion to meet with Mr. Putin was coordinated with American or other European officials, or whether they would interpret the move as undercutting the efforts to isolate the Russian leader. |
| Nor was it clear whether Mr. Hollande, who has shown himself to be notably decisive in foreign crises, was stepping up his diplomatic role in an effort to offset his declining political fortunes at home, where his party suffered a significant setback in elections for the European Parliament on Sunday. | Nor was it clear whether Mr. Hollande, who has shown himself to be notably decisive in foreign crises, was stepping up his diplomatic role in an effort to offset his declining political fortunes at home, where his party suffered a significant setback in elections for the European Parliament on Sunday. |
| Immediately after the annexation of Crimea in March, the Group of 8 industrialized countries, which includes the United States and European powers, suspended Russia from participation in the forum, and the United States and Europe have subsequently clamped sanctions on Mr. Putin, his inner circle, and Russian moguls in an effort to exact a cost for changing the borders of Europe by fiat. | Immediately after the annexation of Crimea in March, the Group of 8 industrialized countries, which includes the United States and European powers, suspended Russia from participation in the forum, and the United States and Europe have subsequently clamped sanctions on Mr. Putin, his inner circle, and Russian moguls in an effort to exact a cost for changing the borders of Europe by fiat. |
| Officials at the French presidency denied reports that Mr. Hollande would host a dinner for Mr. Putin, or try to mediate directly between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro O. Poroshenko, the billionaire confectioner who was elected president on Sunday. | Officials at the French presidency denied reports that Mr. Hollande would host a dinner for Mr. Putin, or try to mediate directly between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro O. Poroshenko, the billionaire confectioner who was elected president on Sunday. |
| But Mr. Hollande has invited Mr. Poroshenko to attend the commemorations as well. There are no plans for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but the men will attend ceremonial events together with other heads of state, as well as a luncheon to be held at a chateau in Normandy, according to the French diplomat. | But Mr. Hollande has invited Mr. Poroshenko to attend the commemorations as well. There are no plans for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but the men will attend ceremonial events together with other heads of state, as well as a luncheon to be held at a chateau in Normandy, according to the French diplomat. |
| Mr. Hollande is scheduled to meet with President Obama on the eve of the commemorations, the same day he will meet with Mr. Putin; there is no expectation that a joint meeting between the three leaders will be held, however, the diplomat said. | Mr. Hollande is scheduled to meet with President Obama on the eve of the commemorations, the same day he will meet with Mr. Putin; there is no expectation that a joint meeting between the three leaders will be held, however, the diplomat said. |
| Reports on Wednesday, based on statements by an aide to Mr. Putin, suggested that the French and Russian leaders would meet for dinner at the presidential palace. On Thursday, however, officials in France firmly denied that any plans had been made for a meal — which might have upset French allies — though they left open the possibility. | Reports on Wednesday, based on statements by an aide to Mr. Putin, suggested that the French and Russian leaders would meet for dinner at the presidential palace. On Thursday, however, officials in France firmly denied that any plans had been made for a meal — which might have upset French allies — though they left open the possibility. |
| In fact, presidential aides have hardly trumpeted Mr. Hollande’s decision to meet with Mr. Putin, expressing only reserved optimism about its possibilities. Analysts, too, though approving, have been skeptical about the potential for a reconciliation with Mr. Putin. | In fact, presidential aides have hardly trumpeted Mr. Hollande’s decision to meet with Mr. Putin, expressing only reserved optimism about its possibilities. Analysts, too, though approving, have been skeptical about the potential for a reconciliation with Mr. Putin. |
| “At some point or another, they’re going to have to talk to Putin again,” said Hubert Védrine, a former French foreign minister from Mr. Hollande’s Socialist Party. “I think this is an opportunity.” | “At some point or another, they’re going to have to talk to Putin again,” said Hubert Védrine, a former French foreign minister from Mr. Hollande’s Socialist Party. “I think this is an opportunity.” |
| Still, Mr. Védrine cautioned, “It’s too early to be building castles in the sky.” | Still, Mr. Védrine cautioned, “It’s too early to be building castles in the sky.” |