The political scientist pointed to Macron's attempts to lead the anti-Russian movement in the EU.

French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to lead the anti-Russian movement in the European Union (EU), but he is wishful thinking. Political analyst Ivan Mezyuho told Izvestia about this on April 29.

On April 28, Macron said in an interview with Paris Match magazine that he had managed to talk with American President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Vatican. He clarified that he allegedly managed to convince Washington and London to increase pressure on Russia in the next 8-10 days.

"Macron is trying to lead the anti-Russian movement in Europe. But in this sense, he has competitors. For example, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer or German politician Friedrich Merz. I think Macron is actually more wishful thinking. It is unlikely that Donald Trump, in his foreign policy maneuver, is guided by the words of the French president, whom he treats condescendingly," Mezyuho said.

He noted that Trump had not lifted sanctions against Russia imposed by the previous White House administration, had not turned off the Starlink satellites for the Ukrainian army, and still sometimes continues to put pressure on Moscow to achieve a more advantageous position in the negotiation process on the Ukrainian crisis.

"Today there is no unity between the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States. Even friendship against Russia does not unite them as it used to be," the political scientist said.

A gesture of farewell: how the Pope's funeral turned into another summit

Western leaders tried to change Trump's position on Ukraine

According to him, Trump has some positive results from contacts with the Russian side, which cannot be said about his dialogue with the Kiev regime.

"I think that in the near future we will witness some important preliminary agreements between Moscow and Washington. And in this sense, Europe will do everything possible to counteract these agreements. Therefore, we should expect the activation of not only Macron and the leaders of the Baltic limitrophes, but also the leaders of other European states, which clearly demonstrate their anti—Russian policies," concluded Mezyuho.

On April 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized Macron's statements about the West's plans to increase pressure on Russia. He noted that Paris ignores the calls of Russian President Vladimir Putin for a truce and negotiations.