LOS ANGELES.–French President Emmanuel Macron, 47, likes to compete with 78-year-old President Donald Trump when it comes to clout on the world stage, this time pandering to 47-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, thinking that he’s getting the short end of the stick in Trump’s peace talks with 72-year-old President Vladimir Putin. Trump was the only world leader that pushed for peace in Ukraine over the objections of Zelensky who wanted to keep the bottomless cash flowing from the United States now totaling over $300 billion. Zelensky had the perfect situation with 82-year-old former President Joe Biden who essentially gave him a blank check to battle the Kremlin. Biden flat-out funded proxy war with Russia, ending decades of diplomacy, détente, arms control and global cooperation. Once Trump pushed for peace, Macron had to get into the act.
Macron formed an alliance with 63-year-old former EU member U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, inviting newly minted 69-year-old German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish President Donald Tusk to join the party. Meeting in Kiev over the weekend, all four gave Putin an ultimatum to engage in a 30-day unconditional ceasefire or face more harsh economic sanctions. Trump was working with his envoy Steve Witkoff on a lasting peace in Ukraine, only to watch the peace process hijacked by Macron, looking for his first Nobel Peace Prize. Trump battles more egos in the EU than just Zelensky, who thinks after over three years of war with the Kremlin he can still make unrealistic demands. “This is the first step, but it is not sufficient,” Macron told journalists arriving in Warsaw after his weekend visit to Kiev. Let there be no mistake, Macron and the EU will get Zelensky less.
Brussels must decide whether or not it’s prepared to take on the Kremlin, now that Trump has decided to pursue normal diplomatic relations. Trump wants no part of former President Joe Biden’s proxy war with the Kremlin, telling Zelensky, in no uncertain terms, that the blank check from the U.S. is over. Zelensky couldn’t fathom that Trump would seek cooperative diplomatic relations with his archenemy, Vladimir Putin. After all, Biden made Putin into a U.S. enemy all because he wanted to support Ukraine’s war with the Kremlin. Trump has reversed all of that and has pushed Zelensky to seek a peace deal with Putin, knowing that Putin has the upper hand in any long-term war. Zelensky threw a fit in the Oval Office Feb. 28, all because he couldn’t stand the idea of Trump making peace with Putin. Zelensky pretends the U.S. never had healthy diplomatic relations with Russia.
Macon says that Putin is using proposed direct talks in Istanbul to delay dealing with the EU’s ultimatum for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Macron called Putin’s announcement of peace talks a delay tactic, not responding to EU demands. EU makes demands but it’s not ready to enforce anything other than throwing more sanctions at the Kremlin. “He is looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time,” Macron said about Putin. EU officials talk tough but they have no intent to taking over funding for the Ukraine War like Biden. Instead of letting Trump work on a deal and then asking for concessions or changes, Macron decided that he must usurp Trump’s authority to negotiate his own deal with Putin. Macron has no relationship with Putin because he turned 180 degrees from his peacemaker role, now only wants to blame Putin for the war and all the damage to Ukraine.
Macron finds it unacceptable that Putin continues to bomb Ukraine while engaging in potential talks with Ukraine. But Zelensky does the exact same thing, continues to hit the Kremlin while talking peace with his EU partners. Unlike Trump, Zelensky feels safer with the EU because he thinks Trump has taken Russia’s side in peace talks. In reality, Trump wants a deal anyway he can get it because he knows that continuing the war only causes more destruction to Ukraine. Zelensky would continue the war as long as the U.S. or EU foots the bill. Zelensky can’t afford to pay for his bankrupt Kiev government without taking cash from the U.S. to pay civil servants salaries and benefits. “We must stand firm with the [United States] and say that the ceasefire is unconditional, and then we can discuss the rest,” Macron said, trying impose his way on Putin.
Macron and the EU think they have come to Ukraine’s rescue but, in fact, have made the peace process with Putin all the more difficult. Putin has no real reason to continue the Ukraine War, all because Trump made peace with the Kremlin, reestablishing normal diplomatic relations. Putin can no longer say he’s at war with the U.S. and NATO. Whether the EU comes around or not, Putin no longer fights his archenemy in the U.S. How ironic that Trump has made Russia an ally, no longer warmongering like Biden. But the EU hasn’t yet caught up to Trump’s foreign policy, still acting like Putin is an enemy to the EU. Former Soviet satellites now part of the EU and NATO, including Poland, fear that Putin has his sights on their countries. Biden and Zelensky often said without facts that Putin seeks to expand the Russian Federation. Putin has denies any such accusations.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
