French president Emmanuel Macron has called on the EU to forge its own plan for “security and stability” with Russia, in a move that risks undermining western solidarity in the face of Kremlin aggression towards Ukraine.
In a speech to the European Parliament, Macron called for EU states to “conduct their own dialogue” with Russia rather than support diplomatic efforts led by the US and Nato, in sharp contrast to a plea from US secretary of state Antony Blinken for “unity”.
Macron said that despite the joint EU-US diplomacy, Europeans had to offer Russia a solution to de-escalate tensions with Moscow in the “coming weeks”.
“We should build as Europeans working with other Europeans and with Nato and then propose it for negotiation with Russia,” he told MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday. “It is good that Europeans and the United States co-ordinate, but it is necessary that Europeans conduct their own dialogue.”
Macron’s intervention is the first example of public dissent between Nato members since the US first warned of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine more than two months ago.
It also breaks a united front between the EU and US on Russia, forged by what officials have described as unprecedented levels of diplomatic outreach by the US to engage Brussels in the dialogue with Moscow.
Speaking during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Blinken stressed the need for a unified approach ahead of his planned meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.
“The strength of our diplomacy, our deterrence and any response to Moscow’s aggression demands unity among allies and partners, as well as within Ukraine,” he warned.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, also seemingly sought to drive a wedge between the US and its Nato and European allies on Wednesday, pushing back against broader multinational talks and saying Moscow would prefer to deal primarily with the US.
“We would prefer to find an understanding and do a deal with the Americans foremost. Bringing in too broad a circle of countries into these process seems counterproductive to us,” he said.
Russia has long sought to sideline the EU in favour of negotiating with individual countries and Macron’s call for a separate negotiation track will probably lead to questions regarding the level of western consensus behind the White House’s efforts to avert war through diplomacy.
The EU is struggling to reach agreement on what level of aggression from Russia towards Ukraine should trigger imposing sanctions, amid diverging levels of appetite for imposing measures against Moscow among its members.
Russia has amassed around 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and threatened an unspecified “military-technical response” if security alliance Nato does not roll back its forces and pledge never to admit Ukraine.
Blinken, who met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia could “in short order” double its 100,000-plus force at various locations close to its border with Ukraine.
“That gives President [Vladimir] Putin the capacity also on very short notice to take further aggressive action against Ukraine,” Blinken said. “I strongly, strongly hope we can keep this on a diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately this is President Putin’s decision.”
Blinken repeated warnings that Russia would face crippling sanctions if it further invaded Ukraine, having annexed Crimea in 2014 and since then fuelled a war in the country’s eastern Donbas region.
Ryabkov on Wednesday described the security situation in Europe as “critical”, but said Russia would “not attack, strike, invade, quote-unquote whatever, Ukraine”.
Blinken will travel to Berlin on Thursday before meeting with Lavrov. The Geneva meeting follows talks last week between Russia, the US and Nato, which Moscow described as a “dead end” after its security demands, including for Ukraine’s Nato membership bid to be rejected, were ruled out.
Macron lay off the shrooms for a bit, Russia may or may not be trying to invade Ukraine in the foreseeable future.
Macron has already raised the prospect of rewriting the European security architecture and Russia’s role in it, in some half-assed stream of consciousness, vaguely Gaullist fit.
I doubt anything is gonna come out of it this time around.
Macron is so desperately trying to be Napoleon 2.0 that he doesn’t see that destroying relations with the USA would 100% benefit Russia and China. I understand he’s in a election campaign but Jesus, Macron dude you’re not some random waiter that’s venting during his break, you’re the French president lol.
The Germans and the French are working for their own interests, I hope this is pretty obvious by now.
Strategic Autonomy for the EU, unless it means actually exercising that autonomy.
Brit here, wishing Ukraine well. I hope the UK is able to do more for our Eastern European friends as things escalate.
I think people just hurt his ego to much, so now he wants to prove he is historical leader
This is hardly surprising, remember that had Russia not invaded Ukraine once already France would have happily sold them two Mistral class ships. Obviously France and the USA still have very different positions on Russia, as Macron is proving.
it’s a real shame that EU leaders cannot reach a consensus in such an important matter, shows how much unity really means to those greedy cunts
Good. Europeans country should ditch NATO, and form a platform for ALL Europeans nation to cooperate. Without NATO and Americans dialog with Russia should be possible and risk of ukraine invasion would be averted.
Nice, one of Biden’s main promises was to bring closer diplomatic relations with Europe.
A couple of years ago there was a symposium on security issues (there is a Youtube video somewhere) in which Macron sat next to Putin. When it came to the question that the US is indispensable for European security, Putin sat there like the Mafia boss of a protection racket saying “we (the Russians) can provide security”. I think Macron didn’t comment, but the expression on his face left room for all kinds of interpretations. He clearly didn’t feel entirely comfortable.
Would we be better off with a Russian protection racket than with the American protection racket? Probably not. But is there no third way?
It seems from many comments below that a lot of people still believe the US would do much to protect them from Russia.
They did nothing about Crimea, the changed their mind in Syria, abandoned the Kurds, even abandoned European civilians in Kaboul. They don’t sound as clear as before on TaiWan; they don’t set any limit to china’s statements. They took ages before (softly) intervening to calm down tensions between two NATO powers, Greece and Turkey …
We can clearly have Trump’s daughter as US President. Or her husband. I doubt they would spend much time on Eastern Europe matters. Sadly
What a fucking idiot, this moron might actually have negative credibility now.
Didn’t expect him to capitulate right away. He looked promising, but whatever.
I know that France has historically been very pro-Russia but this is quite the timing.
He wants a compromise with the Russians doesn’t he?
The white flag has been bought out of storage, washed, dried, ironed and is now neatly secured and once more, ready for hoisting.
I feel like Ukraine would prefer the US/UK security pact right now.
Today’s 5 hours of hate, presented by the British press.
Good. EU should gradually enhance and bolster its Common Foreign Security and Defense policy. One of the largest markets in the world should have its own voice and power structures to defend against or engage on hostilities.
There is literally nothing in Ukraine worth one American life. But who am I kidding, we all know that Europe is ready to fight to the last American. After that the Germans may have to send in the Broomstick Brigades.
Depends how it’s done. I see often how EE commenters blame EU for being useless if not sold to RUS but you see them equally negative when the EU wants to do something.
Pick one and stick with it.
This thread is a shitshow with idiots going mad with their own interpretation of the title.
The last time the world sat on the sidelines and watched a dictator take what he wanted, France ended up being amongst the first to lose her liberty
25 comments
French president Emmanuel Macron has called on the EU to forge its own plan for “security and stability” with Russia, in a move that risks undermining western solidarity in the face of Kremlin aggression towards Ukraine.
In a speech to the European Parliament, Macron called for EU states to “conduct their own dialogue” with Russia rather than support diplomatic efforts led by the US and Nato, in sharp contrast to a plea from US secretary of state Antony Blinken for “unity”.
Macron said that despite the joint EU-US diplomacy, Europeans had to offer Russia a solution to de-escalate tensions with Moscow in the “coming weeks”.
“We should build as Europeans working with other Europeans and with Nato and then propose it for negotiation with Russia,” he told MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday. “It is good that Europeans and the United States co-ordinate, but it is necessary that Europeans conduct their own dialogue.”
Macron’s intervention is the first example of public dissent between Nato members since the US first warned of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine more than two months ago.
It also breaks a united front between the EU and US on Russia, forged by what officials have described as unprecedented levels of diplomatic outreach by the US to engage Brussels in the dialogue with Moscow.
Speaking during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Blinken stressed the need for a unified approach ahead of his planned meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.
“The strength of our diplomacy, our deterrence and any response to Moscow’s aggression demands unity among allies and partners, as well as within Ukraine,” he warned.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, also seemingly sought to drive a wedge between the US and its Nato and European allies on Wednesday, pushing back against broader multinational talks and saying Moscow would prefer to deal primarily with the US.
“We would prefer to find an understanding and do a deal with the Americans foremost. Bringing in too broad a circle of countries into these process seems counterproductive to us,” he said.
Russia has long sought to sideline the EU in favour of negotiating with individual countries and Macron’s call for a separate negotiation track will probably lead to questions regarding the level of western consensus behind the White House’s efforts to avert war through diplomacy.
The EU is struggling to reach agreement on what level of aggression from Russia towards Ukraine should trigger imposing sanctions, amid diverging levels of appetite for imposing measures against Moscow among its members.
Russia has amassed around 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and threatened an unspecified “military-technical response” if security alliance Nato does not roll back its forces and pledge never to admit Ukraine.
Blinken, who met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia could “in short order” double its 100,000-plus force at various locations close to its border with Ukraine.
“That gives President [Vladimir] Putin the capacity also on very short notice to take further aggressive action against Ukraine,” Blinken said. “I strongly, strongly hope we can keep this on a diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately this is President Putin’s decision.”
Blinken repeated warnings that Russia would face crippling sanctions if it further invaded Ukraine, having annexed Crimea in 2014 and since then fuelled a war in the country’s eastern Donbas region.
Ryabkov on Wednesday described the security situation in Europe as “critical”, but said Russia would “not attack, strike, invade, quote-unquote whatever, Ukraine”.
Blinken will travel to Berlin on Thursday before meeting with Lavrov. The Geneva meeting follows talks last week between Russia, the US and Nato, which Moscow described as a “dead end” after its security demands, including for Ukraine’s Nato membership bid to be rejected, were ruled out.
Macron lay off the shrooms for a bit, Russia may or may not be trying to invade Ukraine in the foreseeable future.
Macron has already raised the prospect of rewriting the European security architecture and Russia’s role in it, in some half-assed stream of consciousness, vaguely Gaullist fit.
I doubt anything is gonna come out of it this time around.
Macron is so desperately trying to be Napoleon 2.0 that he doesn’t see that destroying relations with the USA would 100% benefit Russia and China. I understand he’s in a election campaign but Jesus, Macron dude you’re not some random waiter that’s venting during his break, you’re the French president lol.
The Germans and the French are working for their own interests, I hope this is pretty obvious by now.
Strategic Autonomy for the EU, unless it means actually exercising that autonomy.
Brit here, wishing Ukraine well. I hope the UK is able to do more for our Eastern European friends as things escalate.
I think people just hurt his ego to much, so now he wants to prove he is historical leader
This is hardly surprising, remember that had Russia not invaded Ukraine once already France would have happily sold them two Mistral class ships. Obviously France and the USA still have very different positions on Russia, as Macron is proving.
it’s a real shame that EU leaders cannot reach a consensus in such an important matter, shows how much unity really means to those greedy cunts
Good. Europeans country should ditch NATO, and form a platform for ALL Europeans nation to cooperate. Without NATO and Americans dialog with Russia should be possible and risk of ukraine invasion would be averted.
Nice, one of Biden’s main promises was to bring closer diplomatic relations with Europe.
A couple of years ago there was a symposium on security issues (there is a Youtube video somewhere) in which Macron sat next to Putin. When it came to the question that the US is indispensable for European security, Putin sat there like the Mafia boss of a protection racket saying “we (the Russians) can provide security”. I think Macron didn’t comment, but the expression on his face left room for all kinds of interpretations. He clearly didn’t feel entirely comfortable.
Would we be better off with a Russian protection racket than with the American protection racket? Probably not. But is there no third way?
It seems from many comments below that a lot of people still believe the US would do much to protect them from Russia.
They did nothing about Crimea, the changed their mind in Syria, abandoned the Kurds, even abandoned European civilians in Kaboul. They don’t sound as clear as before on TaiWan; they don’t set any limit to china’s statements. They took ages before (softly) intervening to calm down tensions between two NATO powers, Greece and Turkey …
We can clearly have Trump’s daughter as US President. Or her husband. I doubt they would spend much time on Eastern Europe matters. Sadly
What a fucking idiot, this moron might actually have negative credibility now.
Didn’t expect him to capitulate right away. He looked promising, but whatever.
I know that France has historically been very pro-Russia but this is quite the timing.
He wants a compromise with the Russians doesn’t he?
The white flag has been bought out of storage, washed, dried, ironed and is now neatly secured and once more, ready for hoisting.
I feel like Ukraine would prefer the US/UK security pact right now.
Today’s 5 hours of hate, presented by the British press.
The serious reporting is discussed on [https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/s7vih0/macron_proposes_security_pact_to_make_europe_a/](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/s7vih0/macron_proposes_security_pact_to_make_europe_a/).
The relevant section of Macron’s speech starts here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irJPTHztdhg&t=1904s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irJPTHztdhg&t=1904s)
Good. EU should gradually enhance and bolster its Common Foreign Security and Defense policy. One of the largest markets in the world should have its own voice and power structures to defend against or engage on hostilities.
There is literally nothing in Ukraine worth one American life. But who am I kidding, we all know that Europe is ready to fight to the last American. After that the Germans may have to send in the Broomstick Brigades.
Depends how it’s done. I see often how EE commenters blame EU for being useless if not sold to RUS but you see them equally negative when the EU wants to do something.
Pick one and stick with it.
This thread is a shitshow with idiots going mad with their own interpretation of the title.
The last time the world sat on the sidelines and watched a dictator take what he wanted, France ended up being amongst the first to lose her liberty