On Jan. 28 French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in an attempt to calm tensions over NATO expansion towards the East. But the Kremlin is sticking to its guns and sulking because the West has refused its demands.
Emmanuel Macron’s extremely delicate mission was to suggest a path towards de-escalating the critical situation in Ukraine. What came out of it? The Russians were the first to give their feedback on this attempt at mediation. Not surprisingly, Putin repeated that he was not satisfied. According to the statement released by the Kremlin, Putin told Macron that the West was not paying attention to Russian concerns about the expansion of NATO.
According to the same source, the Russian president argued that: “the central question has been ignored, namely how the United States and its allies were planning to follow the key principle that no country will seek to bolster its own security at the expense of another country.”
The French side viewed things more positively. The conversation between the two heads of state, which lasted over an hour, had “facilitated an understanding that de-escalation was necessary,” said the statement from Paris. “President Putin had not indicated any intention to go on the offensive […] and had stated clearly that he was not seeking confrontation.” With regard to Europe’s security strategy, the two heads of state: “agreed to pursue dialogue that would necessitate European […] active participation in the dialogue,” in which the USA and NATO now take a prominent position.
Following the conversation with Macron, Russia says it is in full reflection mode and will: “determine its reaction,” having studied, in detail, the responses of its rivals.
In a timid, but rare forward movement, plans were announced for another meeting in Berlin, at the beginning of February. France views this as a “positive signal” from Russia in advance of the meeting between Macron and Putin.
The conversation between the two leaders seems to have created in the French mind the illusion that Putin is listening to us. However, to make its voice heard over the walls of the Kremlin, France needs to consolidate its ties with its European and US partners. Only a united front will achieve results in any conversation with Putin.
Past attempts at dialogue with Putin have brought no advantage to France. In Syria, Russia is backing Bachar more strongly than ever. In Africa, there is clear competition in areas that have traditionally been zones of French influence, for example, the arrival of Wagner mercenaries, first in the Central African Republic and now in Mali.
First and foremost, we must consolidate a common position with our European and US partners. We must create a real European defense strategy and reinforce our transatlantic ties. In facing Putin, it is in our interests to present a united Western front, because that is the only way to make Putin listen to us. We should have no illusions; Moscow aims to marginalize the Europeans and to insult the European Union.
When it comes to discussing Ukraine, the Russians are only interested in talking to the U.S.
Any illusions to the contrary stem from a false interpretation of history. General de Gaulle would have had no illusions about Putin. In May 1920 de Gaulle was in Poland during the Soviet-Polish war, or the Russo-Polish war, which took place from February 1919 to March 1921. As an eyewitness to the trials endured by the Polish people, de Gaulle took part in military operations with General Bernard in the third unit of the Southern (later Central) army led by the Polish commander General Rydz-Śmigły. De Gaulle was awarded a citation for his efforts, and after the Polish victory, he wrote a report about the Polish army.
Regarding the tactics of the FT 17 tank regiment, he wrote “Tanks must be brought together and not allowed to disperse.” This analysis – the result of observing just one tank division – indicates that, above all else, in Poland, de Gaulle had discovered the essential nature of large-scale cavalry movements as a shock tactic and as a means of obtaining a strategic advantage: the key is to stick together.
If de Gaulle was around today, he would be supporting Ukraine and writing reports on hybrid warfare!
Professor (h.c.) Olivier VÉDRINE, political scientist, journalist, writer, chief editor of Russian Monitor https://rusmonitor.com/, member of the Steering Committee of the Association Jean Monnet
Op-ed disclaimer: The Kyiv Post is not responsible or liable for any content in this article, which expresses the personal viewpoint of the author only.
