“No diktat peace to Ukraine”: at the Élysée, European leaders are trying to display a united front

Sign of the gravity of the moment, this Monday at 4 p.m. at the Élysée, Emmanuel Macron went down the steps of the Perron to accommodate one by one, a kiss or a tape in the back, the dozen European leaders invited To this “informal meeting” of emergency, looking like a crisis summit. No spectacular decision at the end of the three and a half hour meeting. The objective was above all to display a front – almost – united, when Europe seems to be on the sidelines.

On the menu, therefore, first Ukraine and the means to participate in an outing of this war on its territory, while it is Trump and Putin who lead the ball on an accelerated tempo. Ready to meet “very soon” in Ryad (Saudi Arabia) and decided to reach an agreement over their heads … and especially that of the Ukrainians.

Also on the table, security in Europe, faced with the double challenge of Russia which will certainly not stop at Ukraine, and an increasingly reluctant America to guarantee the security of the old continent. The NATO boss, the Dutchman Mark Rutte, a balancingist between a Trump ready to sell off the alliance and Europeans still far from having the capacity to defense, is present at the Elysée.

London ready to send the ground troops to Ukraine

At the presidential palace, the heads of government of Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark parade (also in the name of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries), Poland … their common point is to weigh economically or militarily, and to be volunteers to commit – to various degrees – in an exit of the war in Ukraine. Just before the Mini-Sommet, the French president had his American counterpart for about twenty minutes on the phone.

Landed good last of her midnight blue Maserati, almost an hour late, the Italian Giorgia Meloni. Way for the one who has the ear of Donald Trump (she had the honors of her residence in Mar-A-Lago) and Elon Musk to make her difference heard? It should not feel targeted by the arrow of Hungary of Viktor Orban (not invited), castigating “frustrated European leaders, pro-war and anti-top together to prevent a peace agreement in Ukraine”.

Also present, European officials, Ursula von der Leyen (commission) and Antonio Costa, the new president of the European Council, who could represent the EU if she ever ended up gleaning a strapontin at the negotiation table, including Washington and Moscow L ‘Exclude for the moment.

Released the first from the palace, due to an electoral campaign at home, the German chancellor sets the tone that dominated: “No Diktat peace in Ukraine”. The main interested party, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned on Monday that Ukraine “will not recognize” any agreement concluded without it. “The problem deplores the Ukrainian president is that the United States wants to please Putin.” For the moment, Europe cannot afford them.