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- One step forward, two steps back: the EU is talking about the need to establish a dialogue with Russia
One step forward, two steps back: the EU is talking about the need to establish a dialogue with Russia
EU countries have recently started talking about the need to restore communications with Russia. This has been repeatedly stated by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni. As Politico wrote, the European community is discussing the possibility of appointing a special representative for dialogue with Moscow and the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
In the interests of Europe
"It is important that we structure the resumption of the European discussion with the Russians without being naive, without exerting pressure on Ukrainians, but also without being dependent on third parties in this discussion," Emmanuel Macron called on EU leaders to return to dialogue with Moscow.
He said that Paris had restored a channel for dialogue with Russia "on a technical level", confirming the visit of its diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonn to Moscow. According to L'Express, he arrived in the Russian capital on February 3 to meet with Russian leader's aide Yuri Ushakov. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied reports of Bonn's visit.
According to Bloomberg, Macron's envoy wanted to convince Russia of the need for Europe's participation in security decisions on the continent.
French President Emmanuel Macron
As the head of the Fifth Republic noted, Europe's geographical location will not change, "whether we like Russia or not," and "it's right at our door."
"There shouldn't be too many interlocutors; a mandate is needed, a simple representation is needed — we'll see how we organize ourselves, but there should be an opportunity to resume dialogue with Russia. Why? Because the day peace comes, this peace will spread to Europe," the French president stressed.
Most of all, Europe is afraid that US President Donald Trump will "push" the EU into the background in matters of the Ukrainian settlement. According to the French leader, it is up to the Europeans themselves, not American diplomats, to discuss the timing of Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
"It's a matter of self-respect. Self—respect is good, we need it. Therefore, we should not be afraid to be ourselves. This is in the interests of Europe," Macron stressed.
It's better to call once than to tell a hundred times.
The French president has repeatedly spoken about the benefits of direct dialogue between the European Union and President Vladimir Putin and preparations for a "possible exchange of remarks" with the Russian leader. As reported in the Kremlin, contacts between representatives of the presidents of Russia and France are continuing, but nothing definite can be said about them yet.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov points out that so far it has not gone beyond statements. "Usually such mature leaders announce their contacts based on the results of the conversation," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on Macron's words.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
According to the diplomat, the French president should call the Russian leader, and not "prepare some kind of show."
"A couple of weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron once again stated that he would call Russian President Vladimir Putin sometime. It's not serious. This is pathetic diplomacy. If you want to call and talk about something seriously, then call. The Russian president will always pick up the phone and listen to any suggestions," Lavrov stressed.
The Russian Foreign Minister has also repeatedly stated that Russia is open to dialogue, but it is impossible to agree on anything with the current European leaders. "Europe does not have a peaceful agenda, it is on the side of war," he said.
Lavrov also said that some European leaders continue to contact Russia, but they do so "clandestinely" and ask not to disclose information about such negotiations. However, their rhetoric during such contacts usually does not differ from their public statements.
"These are the same calls: "Let's finish," "we need to do something," the minister explained. The diplomat believes that the European Union "fell into its own trap because of its uncompromising position" and arguments about the need to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia.: "Ukraine cannot lose," "Russia cannot win."
Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov promised to inform Moscow if Moscow receives proposals to resume dialogue between the presidents of Russia and France. He emphasized that a possible dialogue between the two leaders should not be a lecture, but an attempt to understand each other.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in turn, recalled the ambivalent policy of Paris: threats from the French leader against the Russian Federation and rather peaceful statements by the French Ambassador to Russia, Nicolas de Riviere.
"We and not only we have a special expression for this — "a wolf in sheep's clothing." However, I have a feeling that they no longer have wolves under their skin, but sheep, too, given what they say and what they do," she explained, recalling that while the head of the diplomatic mission spoke about his intention to establish relations, obviously having a mandate for this, Macron continued to threaten and be rude to Russia..
"It doesn't happen the same way: on the one hand, sanctions, pressure, rudeness, threats, absolutely destructive behavior, and on the other hand, an attempt to find out where you can still advance your interests under the guise of friendship, kindness, and some kind of peacefulness," Zakharova said.
Special Representative
Macron's proposal to resume dialogue with Russia is currently being actively discussed in Europe. According to the British edition of The Spectator, the main representatives of Europe in negotiations with Moscow should be the European countries — Britain, Germany and France.
Political circles in Italy are also calling for the resumption of contacts with the Russian Federation. Last December, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini criticized Brussels' policy towards Russia and called for a return to diplomacy. He stressed that the EU is de facto boycotting the peace process in Ukraine, shifting its internal problems to foreign policy.
He also added that the 19 packages of anti-Russian sanctions weakened not Russia, but the EU economy. "If neither Hitler nor Napoleon managed to bring Moscow to its knees, I doubt that Kaya Callas, Macron, Starmer and Merz will be able to do it," the politician noted.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also spoke in favor of dialogue with Russia. "Salvini, like Macron, expressed his thoughts on Russia's relations with Italy. In this case, I think Macron is right: I think it's time for the EU to start negotiations, too," she said.
In her opinion, it is necessary to choose a special representative for Ukraine and dialogue with Moscow as a negotiator from the European Union. According to Politico, Macron and Meloni are trying to lobby on this issue. Such candidates as former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Finnish President Alexander Stubb are being discussed. However, as the publication says, this initiative was discussed back in March last year, but the matter has not moved forward.
They want to probe the soil
Pavel Timofeev, Head of the Regional Problems and Conflicts Sector at the IMEMO of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in an interview with Izvestia that so far there is no need to talk about a radically new trend and improvement in relations between Russia and the EU.
— Emmanuel Bonn flew in on a diplomatic visit incognito and left without any public comments. Rather, it's about probing intentions. In the first half of 2022, Macron made several attempts to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, Russia and the EU, but nothing came of it," the expert recalled.
According to the political scientist, it was clear that France itself could hardly offer anything serious, contribute to a quick diplomatic settlement and cessation of hostilities.
— Since the end of 2022, France has greatly toughened its position towards Russia on the Ukrainian crisis, there is a certain Atlanticization of its agenda, Paris is actively involved in the transfer of heavy weapons to Kiev. More than three and a half years have passed, and it is quite difficult to say that France now has any weight, any position on the settlement, that it can offer something to someone," the expert said.
Emmanuel Bonn, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron
The analyst recalled that the latest French initiative concerned the "coalition of the willing" and the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine. Russia condemned this, saying that in this case, all European military personnel, including the French, who enter Ukraine, will become legitimate military targets.
— France cannot offer something interesting for Moscow from the point of view of a diplomatic settlement, the dialogue is primarily not with the Europeans. Obviously, Paris is trying to find out under what conditions their participation in the settlement is possible," Timofeev explained.
In his opinion, the French understand that from a position of explicit Atlanticization, France is unlikely to be able to act as the leader of European countries.
— Obviously, Paris is trying to come from some new angles in order to understand how France can take over the baton and once again find itself in the center of this whole diplomatic game. After all, 2026 is, in fact, Macron's last full year in power, when he can take some initiatives and strengthen the country's position as a negotiator. The next presidential election will be held in May 2027," the political scientist concluded.
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