Major Meetings As Macron Visits Putin, Scholz Sees Biden

Significant day of top-level geopolitical summits taking place today, with French President Emmanuel Macron travelling to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with US President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C.

• Prior to his meeting, Macron has claimed that he believes the Ukraine crisis can be resolved without Russia invading Ukraine. The two are set to meet this afternoon alone with only translators and note-takers in the room. The talks are open-ended with no set time for a conclusion.
• Scholz is under pressure from Russia hawks, notably the US, to take a more hardline stance towards Moscow, notably on the issue of the Nord Stream II gas pipeline. Germany's reputation has suffered significantly in US since the start of the crisis, with Scholz having to work hard to prove Berlin is not an 'unreliable partner' on issues related to Russia.