PROOF: https://i.redd.it/lya7t0cvzl6a1.jpg

Hello everyone! My name is Gilles Paris, and I’m a politics columnist for France’s leading newspaper Le Monde. 

During my seven years as our correspondent in Washington, I was often asked about France’s foreign policy, which was often perceived with suspicion. France’s repeated desire, regardless of the president, to see the emergence of a strong European defense system, wrongly seen as distancing itself from NATO, is a good case study of this. Back in France, my contacts with the “Paris blob” (experts working for think tanks and officials in French administration) help me comprehend Emmanuel Macron’s “lone ranger” strategy on Ukraine, which often generates misunderstanding and anger but points to some of his inner convictions. 

Last week, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Paris and France hosted an international conference in support of Ukraine’s resilience through the winter. Our team of journalists took this opportunity to report on Emmanuel Macron’s Ukraine strategy since the beginning of the conflict. Many diplomats and European partners are troubled by his “solitary” approach and puzzled by his diplomatic “at the same time” balancing act between Kyiv and Moscow.

AMA about France’s and Emmanuel Macron’s Ukraine strategy, and the European response and foreign policy in light of the conflict!

– [Twitter](https://twitter.com/gil_paris)
Read my column in Le Monde in Englishhttps://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2022/12/15/in-this-era-of-geopolitical-darwinism-europeans-have-no-choice-but-to-adapt-in-order-not-to-disappear_6007869_23.html

Read our investigation about Emmanuel Macron’s “lone ranger” Ukraine diplomacy
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/13/war-in-ukraine-macron-s-lone-ranger-diplomacy_6007680_4.html

Read our article about the Paris international conference in support of Ukraine on December 13
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/14/ukraine-receives-new-aid-from-allies-to-face-russian-energy-terror_6007747_4.html

9 comments

  1. It seems that Macron wants to play an intermediary role in the conflict, but Turkey’s Erdogan already functions as such and has produced real results. What does Macron think he can do that Erdogan can’t? From my perspective, French policy on Ukraine seems a little confused.

  2. Hello and thank you for this AMA!

    What did Macron actually mean when he spoke about giving security guarantees to Russia? What would it look like in practice?

  4. Macron has had attempted a diplomatic solution with Russia and it has been seen on reddit as surrendering to Russian interest. How true is that?

    Also, i’ve seen some redditors call France delusional, claiming that they hang on to being a major player in world politics, is that true?

    Thanks for you’re time, sorry if the questions seem loaded, didn’t intend that.

  5. Why did Emmanuel Macron feel the need to publicise the support he was showing to the French national football team’s defeat against Argentina in the 2022 Qatar WC? I am not aware of other European or World Leader doing this after a team loss…

  7. What was the French publics opinion of Macron’s attempt at peacemaker back in February? do they see it as too little too late, or a valiant attempt at peace? and do most people still hold those opinions?

  8. Salut!

    Why do you think that so many people in the US and UK are so desperate to subscribe to the various lies about Macron since the war began? Many people still believe that Macron wants Zelensky to make territorial concessions to Putin, despite that being debunked numerous times.

    What do you think about the Elysee’s communications strategy since the war began? Do you think that a clearer message should have been sent about France’s commitment and support for Ukraine?

    Do you think that the war will make European nations such as France work more closely with one and other on defence products inorder to become less dependent on the United States?

  9. I watched the 60 minutes interview of Macron prior to his second visit with Biden, and Macron seemed much more independent then – in that it seemed like he was pushing for a “third option” to end the conflict.

    After the summit, Macron has been much more closely aligned with American interests and his rhetoric feels like it has been tempered with a pro-American view. Is that an accurate summation of what occured, and, if so, what was the reasoning for this shift?

    I do want to note that I am an American and mostly consume American news. I do follow a lot of “French twitter,” but it may be an input error on my end – so please feel free to correct me if I made a misunderstanding.

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