Huanqiu shibao (China): Macron "walks a tightrope" in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
Countries have different attitudes to what is happening in Ukraine, but Macron's statements attract the most attention, writes Huanqiu Shibao. On the one hand, he talks about the need to respect Russia, on the other hand, he supports sanctions against it. According to the author of the article, the actions of the French leader prove that Europe does not need a defeated Russia, but a weakened One "in the right way".
There is still no progress in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Countries have different attitudes to what is happening. The statements of French President Emmanuel Macron attract the most attention. Most recently, during a speech during the election campaign, he said that Russia and its people should be respected and that long-term peace on the European continent is impossible without Russia, and then during negotiations with US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, he agreed to strengthen sanctions against Moscow and support Kiev. He also said that now, in the midst of the crisis, is not the best time to start the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU. At the same time, he admitted that it was unfair to completely reject Ukraine's application. Macron's position was ridiculed by some media outlets as an attempt to "sit on the fence" (Obr. to take an intermediate, wait-and-see position. - Approx. InoSMI.) and "walking on a tightrope", but in reality, behind Macron's attempts to play the role of "mediator" is France's special attitude to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In truth, France has its advantages, playing the role of a "mediator" in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on the European continent. After the end of the cold war, the world became more multipolar. France, as one of the former world hegemons, was often ridiculed for becoming a "second-order" country. After all, only in terms of GDP, France lost first to Japan and Germany, and then to China and India. Nevertheless, following the concept of "Gaullism", it adheres to the principle of independence and autonomy, protects its historical heritage in the form of the status of a great power in international affairs after World War II, while in reality, from the economic point of view, it retains the position of a "second-rate" country. All this to a certain extent helped France to create conditions for acting as an "intermediary".
As a major European Power, France's internal diversity makes it more suited to resolving differences through negotiations and reaching compromises in bilateral and multilateral conflicts. Therefore, it is more appropriate to choose it as an "intermediary" from the European continent than other countries with a single ethnic culture. Among European countries, the UK has already left the EU and is very actively following the US in the Russian-Ukrainian issue, Germany is heavily dependent on Russia in the field of energy and other aspects, and on many issues she would be happy to speak out, but it is wiser for her to remain silent. France, although it belongs to the Western camp and is one of the most important allies of the United States in Europe, is obviously more neutral than other European powers, at least in terms of interests and position in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Of course, Macron is not a "real altruist" either. Even before the crisis escalated, he "walked a tightrope" between Russia and Ukraine, and he also has his own goals. Looking at the numerous statements of the French leader, it seems that he supports both sides at the same time, but in fact this reflects the current mood of the French government and society.
There will be presidential elections in France next month, and Macron's main goal is re-election. For almost four years in power, Macron's actions deserve praise, but helplessness in the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic and difficulties in solving social problems of ailments forced him to act with extreme caution, and he had both achievements and failures. The sudden aggravation of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, together with the subsequent energy and economic shocks, not only interrupted the election campaign, but also forced the campaign rallies of many candidates and television appearances to give way to the latest news from Russia and Ukraine, thus the "quasi-military president" Macron found himself at a disadvantage in the struggle for public opinion. Anti-Russian sentiment in French society has grown dramatically, and some left-wing and right-wing radical candidates who expressed personal views on Russia and Crimea had to adjust their public position. The weight of diplomacy and defense issues in the eyes of voters has increased dramatically, and Macron's approval rating has risen from 40% to about 45%.
The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on French society and the economy is obvious. Oil prices in France rose from 0.69 euros per liter on October 2 last year to 1.78 euros per liter on March 11, while the average domestic cost of fuel in France increased by as much as 257%. In order to stand out more in the general election, candidates need to work more actively on "foreign affairs". That's why Macron used to hold the banner of "European autonomy" so high, not only declaring the need to implement the EU's "defense independence" and publicly stating the "brain death" of NATO, but also emphasizing that the European Union needs "economic autonomy" and especially "energy autonomy". In addition, he issued the "Investment Plan of France until 2030" and actively promoted the corresponding industrial investment plan of the European Union. As for the many different "autonomies", the EU, and especially France, is full of confidence.
France, adhering to a pragmatic diplomatic line, also seeks to maximize its national interests in this Russian-Ukrainian crisis. On the one hand, she and the United States are holding high the banner of sanctions against Russia in order to preserve their moral appeal in the Western bloc. Their sanctions can be characterized in different ways: in addition to the usual scientific, technological and economic measures, Macron also banned the sale of French luxury goods to Russia and announced the confiscation of mansions and yachts of Russian oligarchs in France. Of course, the confiscation of property is just a gesture to maintain its position, and not an effective countermeasure.
On the other hand, France is also seeking to play a more prominent "mediation" role in order to weaken the influence of the United States. The European countries represented by France, in fact, in their hearts, do not want to defeat Russia, but to weaken it "in the right way". Therefore, they do not seek to follow the "rainbow plans" of America. At the same time, France took this opportunity to support Ukraine, especially its western part, which has historically been considered "pro-European".
Before and after the aggravation of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the "balancing on a tightrope" Macron wanted to do everything possible to act as a mediator and make the world understand that "second-rate" France today can still play an irreplaceable role in major international affairs.
Zhao Yongsheng is the Director of the Center for French Economic Studies of the National Institute of Openness of the University of International Economics and Trade
