Russia has geopolitically lost the war in Ukraine and is beginning to enter a kind of servitude against China, French President Emmanuel Macron has assessed. “In the long term, the European security architecture must fully embrace the future of Ukraine,” he said in an interview with the daily L’Opinion.
“Given Moscow’s current relations with Beijing and the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance to include Finland and Sweden, Russia has geopolitically lost the war in Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron told French daily L’Opinion.
He also said there was no question of a Russian “special military operation” since Vladimir Putin had announced the mobilization. In addition to its servitude to China, Russia also lost the Baltic region because its actions accelerated the entry of the two Nordic countries into NATO, the president estimated.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyPAP/EPA/Christophe PETIT TESSON
Macron: Russia cannot win militarily
“Two years ago, such a situation was unimaginable,” Macron said. “Russia cannot succeed militarily. It is up to us how to help Ukraine’s counterattack and prepare the issue of security guarantees for the negotiations that will undoubtedly follow,” he added.
“I have always said that in the long term, the European security architecture must fully embrace the future of Ukraine,” the French president said. However, he noted that it is also necessary to build non-confrontational relations with Russia. “However, it needs more steps,” he added.
On Sunday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris from Germany and will be welcomed by Macron in Versailles on Monday morning.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/Christophe PETIT TESSON