France and Germany have decided to distance themselves from the Ukrainian crisis. This was reported by the British publication Spectator on Wednesday, 22 June.
“Frankly speaking, this means that they have chosen to stay away and leave Ukraine alone with Russia in an attempt to negotiate the most acceptable terms possible,” the publication’s author, columnist Andrew Tettenborn, explained.
He also noted that such a position demonstrates a crisis of solidarity among European states with regard to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
However, according to Tettenborn, the lack of enthusiasm of some members of the European Union (EU) is understandable. Active support for Ukraine could cost Europe a lot in every sense, first and foremost because it means an imminent escalation.
Thus, based on national interests and unwillingness to turn Europe into a battleground, many state leaders choose between “justice” and “peace”, the journalist writes.
In his opinion, Eastern Europe is less interested in finding a compromise and insists on the need to fight back against Moscow. Poland and Lithuania are particularly tough on this issue.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Policy warned of a shifting balance of power in the EU. Disagreements within the alliance offer a chance for Germany and France to retake the lead. If the situation continues to develop in the same vein, we can expect a serious strengthening of the positions of Eastern European states.
On 17 June, Die Welt newspaper reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi tried behind closed doors to persuade Kiev to compromise with Russia on the conflict in Donbas and sit down at the negotiating table. In exchange for this step, the European heads of state allegedly promised Ukraine support in joining the EU.
On 16 June, Foreign Policy columnist and Hudson Institute senior associate Peter Rough said that Scholz together with Macron were trying to find a way to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. According to him, the German chancellor seeks diplomatic methods to resolve the situation in Donbas, “neglects hard power” and treats Ukraine “simply as an element of his policy towards Russia”.
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