Macron in Moscow and Kyiv

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 10 Feb 2022 by Alex Teddy

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On February 9 the French President visited Putin and Zelensky. Putin promised that Russia would not escalate the situation. But this leaves open the possibility of Russia's raising the stakes if someone else escalates. Macron now says it is possible that Russia and Ukraine will negotiate anew.Putin and Macron discussed European security. Macron lowered expectations before this tête-à-tête in Moscow. He did not think a deal was likely. But merely prolonging negotiations and making France relevant to the situation was an achievement. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. Until now Russia was minded to speak to the US about Ukraine and regarded EU countries as unworthy interlocutors. The EU felt that the United States tended to marginalize it. The EU's highest diplomat, Josep Borrell, recently visited Ukraine but has not been invited to Russia. On February 8 Putin's spokesman confirmed that an agreement on Ukraine will only be concluded with the US. Some believe that the longer talks continue the less likely it is that there will be fighting.France is not vulnerable to Russia's cutting of energy supplies. France has the highest nuclear energy usage in the world. France also believes that it is expedient to maintain a reasonably cordial relationship with Russia. Former communist countries in the EU tend to be less friendly towards Russia.