Macron spoke secretly with Biden and Scholz to convince them to change strategy in Russia's war against Ukraine - WSJ
Kyiv • UNN
Macron urged Biden and Scholz to adopt a strategy of uncertainty about Russia in the war in Ukraine, but faced opposition from allies who fear escalation.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron held confidential talks with President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to lay the groundwork for the Paris summit, which he hoped would change the West's strategy in Russia's war in Ukraine. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, UNN.
According to officials, Markon called on the leaders of the United States and Germany to adopt a position of strategic uncertainty toward Russia, which would leave all options on the table, including military ones.
According to the WSJ, the idea radically contradicts the position that the Biden administration has held since the beginning of the war. Washington's approach was calibrated to avoid actions that could provoke Moscow and lead to an escalation of the conflict. Macron, on the other hand, wanted to stop voicing the limits of Western engagement-the so-called "red lines"-and instead keep the Kremlin guessing.
According to officials, Biden questioned the need for a change in strategy, fearing it could lead to escalation. Scholz also opposed the idea, saying it risked dividing allies and making NATO countries a party to the conflict.
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The WSJ notes that at the beginning of the war, the French president was a supporter of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that allies "should not humiliate Russia." However, over the past year, Macron has begun to push the boundaries of how far the West is willing to go in confronting Moscow.
Macron reportedly called Biden and Scholz to tell them that he wants to use the upcoming summit in Paris to send a message to Putin. Macron said that Western capitals should stop ruling out military options and told the leaders that he wanted to unveil a new approach after the summit.
Scholz replied that if Macron made a public statement, the chancellor and other leaders would be forced to reject it. According to officials, he strongly advised Macron against the move, saying it could cause a sense of disunity among allies.
According to the WSJ, the prospect of Western personnel in Ukraine, both civilian and military, has raised the thorny question of how allies should respond if one of them is killed in a Russian strike.
According to a U.S. official, the Biden administration is concerned that Russia could strike at French troops that may be sent to Ukraine. According to the official, this could lead to the involvement of France and possibly other Western countries in the conflict.
Macron, however, told the allies that there is no need to involve NATO or the United States if Russia targets French troops.
It is noted that the tension reached its peak when Fico, Scholz, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien and other leaders arrived at the Elysee Palace on February 26. Macron shared his views on the need for strategic ambiguity. According to officials, Scholz strongly opposed the idea. The leaders of the Netherlands, Poland, and Greece spoke one after another and politely rejected the idea. The Estonian prime minister backed Macron, saying that leaders need to stop talking about what they will not do in a conflict and focus on what they will do.
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According to a senior Biden administration official, O'Brien urged the participants to express strong support for the initiatives they all agreed on, including the need to speed up the supply of ammunition to Ukraine and accelerate the training schedule for Ukrainian troops, rather than focusing on differences.