The declarations of President Emmanuel Macron after the meeting of the 27 member countries of the European Union last Monday caused a real earthquake within the European Community and even beyond. They had the merit of raising the real issues of the current Russian-Ukrainian face-to-face and of making politicians who had tended to be satisfied with the current status quo react. The French president did not withdraw after the hostile reactions that his remarks sometimes provoked. He succeeded in raising awareness of the danger created by the lethargy in which European countries are immersed.
The words of President Macron which provoked a real debate
President Macron’s remarks were considered very harsh and were not accepted by some participants at the meeting of leaders of 27 European countries in Paris. They did not receive their approval and were disavowed by a certain number of them. They did not accept that we were talking about sending troops to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was even categorical on this point. The French head of state, however, moderated his assertions by speaking of dynamics. He nevertheless spoke of the need to send more and more military aid to Ukraine to beat Russia. His comments were sharply criticized by his allies and by part of the French political class. Some members of the French president’s entourage moderated them, but the essence of Elysian thought remained. It provoked a real debate on the attitude to adopt towards Vladimir Putin. Fear of an armed confrontation with Russia has emerged in public opinion. Commentators raised awareness of the danger that existed if action was not taken. We have seen some insist on the need for rearmament. The question of nuclear weapons was raised. Kremlin spokespeople have gone to great lengths to stoke this fear of a Russian response. Now, the debate provoked by the French president’s remarks makes it possible to put the real problems on the table and to make Europeans react.
Patrice RABE