Will the world's wars stop? Macron proposes Olympic ceasefire, including in Ukraine
Visit UkraineApr 16
Russia Claims Ukraine Would Use 'Olympic Truce' to Regroup
The Facts
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has responded skeptically to French Pres. Emmanuel Macron's call for a break in global conflicts during this year's summer Olympics, which is being hosted by Paris.
Macron on Tuesday said France would do everything possible to observe a cease-fire in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan between Jul. 26 and Aug. 11, including engaging the Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping in the effort.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Holding a cease-fire during the Olympic Games is a tradition dating back to the ancient Greeks and should be honored around the world. Macron isn't just calling for Russia and Ukraine to lay down their weapons for two weeks, but for all warring factions to take a peaceful break from the cycle of violence.
Pro-Russia narrative
Ukraine has typically used cease-fire suggestions to rearm itself, so Russia must exercise caution and consider its own national security interests. Moscow has also been the one calling for actual peace agreements to end the war, but it refuses to take a temporary pause just because Kyiv is running out of bullets.
Nerd narrative
There's a 4% chance that there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement in the Russo-Ukraine conflict in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.