Why does Russia still have friends in France
France's attitude to the situation in Ukraine surprises the West. According to the French, the Russian special operation is the result of NATO provocations and "humiliations" experienced by Moscow since the 1990s. And some call the conflict itself an "American" war.
Figures from the left and right flank accuse NATO of provoking Putin to unleash a conflict that some call the "American war."
When the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, French social networks were filled with contempt. Numerous commentators wrote that the vote was obviously rigged. This was done to please the interests of America and its European followers, the regulars of social networks hinted, or even spoke directly.
This point of view fits perfectly into the cynicism and conspiracy theories that can be found anywhere on social networks. But in France, this reflects the attitude towards the military conflict in Ukraine, which is seriously different from the countries of Northern and Eastern Europe, as well as from the English-speaking world. This can be heard in conversations at cafe tables and from neighbors. "Of course, the Americans are in charge of this conflict," my Parisian hairdresser told me last week. This is manifested on talk shows, scientists talk about it, and in a milder form, President Macron himself. The arguments of the interlocutors to one degree or another boil down to the following. Of course, the Russian military operation is wrong and barbaric, but President Putin was provoked by the North Atlantic Alliance under the leadership of the United States, as well as the "humiliations" that Moscow has been experiencing since the 1990s.
Take, for example, the words of Helen Carrer d’Ancosse (Hélène Carrère d'Encausse). This is not some Twitter twitterer, but the head of the French Academy, the guardian of the French language. The Russian offensive was no surprise, says this 92-year-old lady and historian, and then adds: "It arose from the humiliation to which Russians are subjected. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, no one helped this country get out of the catastrophe."
Former Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine also blames the "arrogant and arrogant" Western allies for the conflict.
Most of the French are shocked by the suffering of Ukrainians. They condemn Putin for the operation undertaken and have hosted 70,000 refugees. But there are much more nuances in their point of view. State radio and television speak much milder about Russia than the English-language media. Since Ukraine manages to restrain the Russians, there is a unanimous opinion in France, supported by Macron, which is that Putin should be offered a decent way out of this situation, including concessions from Kiev. Washington, assisted by its British henchman, is pushing Europe towards a dangerous confrontation with Moscow, many French believe. Finland and Sweden's desire to join NATO is a victory for America to the detriment of Europe. It could push Putin to launch a nuclear strike, critics say. Philosopher and former Minister of Education Luc Ferry voiced this point of view on television yesterday. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a veteran politician from the Franco-German Green group, told him: "You sound like Putin's press secretary."
As Finland and Sweden turned to NATO for protection, French commentators started talking about the "American war". The Distinguished Professor of the Sorbonne and a specialist in the history of the United States, Andre Kaspi, said that the North Atlantic Alliance is being strengthened at the expense of the EU, and the American industry is happily earning billions on supplies. "For the United States, this conflict in Europe has become a great business," he wrote.
Kaspi expressed this point of view in the left-wing information weekly Marianne, which adheres to anti-American and pro-Russian views, as well as radical groups from the world of politics. These forces do not represent some weak minority. 60% of voters in the first round of the presidential election supported anti-NATO candidates from among Russophiles, who were led on the left by Jean—Luc Melenchon, and on the right by Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour.
The position of Macron, who advocates dialogue and delicate treatment with Putin, is popular in Europe and is dominant. However, Poland and the leaders of the Baltic states are increasingly accusing him of compromise. Macron is also talking to President Zelensky, but neither he nor his ministers have been to Kiev since the beginning of the Russian operation. French military aid to Ukraine is half as much as British, however, Paris supplies long-range artillery there. France, together with Germany, are trying to be prudent with regard to Ukraine, but now that official visitors have gone from Berlin to Kiev, Paris is becoming increasingly isolated.
This weekend Zelensky complained about Macron for the first time, saying on Italian television that the president had asked him to help Putin save face. "We want the Russian army to leave our land — we are not on the territory of Russia," Zelensky said. — We will not help Putin save his reputation by paying with our territory. It won't be fair."
The Elysee Palace refutes Zelensky's claims: "The President has never discussed anything with Vladimir Putin without the consent of President Zelensky and has never asked President Zelensky for any concessions."
Nevertheless, Macron still told the European Parliament this month that the conflict should end with negotiations, not "humiliation." Unlike Boris Johnson and President Joe Biden, who disparagingly call Putin a war criminal and the author of genocide, Macron avoids such formulations and wants to continue contacts with the Russian president for the sake of his project of a "new European security architecture." He told parliament in Strasbourg: "When peace returns to European soil, we will have to create new security balances."
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevich took to Twitter on Sunday to attack Macron. "In 1939 it was called appeasement, and in 2022 it is called face preservation. Let's not make the same mistakes again."
The French foreign policy establishment came to Macron's defense, saying that he behaves like a real statesman, unlike Washington and London, where inflammatory talk about the need to punish Russia is heard.<…>
Aro said that the Americans benefit the most from the revival of NATO, trying to destroy the plans of Macron, who wants the EU to deal with its own defense. "The US wants to get everything at once. They assure us of their loyalty, but in fact they fiercely resist any steps by Europe towards strategic independence," he said.
France's ambivalent attitude towards Russia and its suspicion of the "Anglo-Saxons" is a consequence of a thousand-year rivalry that has passed from generation to generation. And it is also connected with Charles de Gaulle's decision in 1966 to withdraw France from NATO command, as well as with his desire to develop special relations with Moscow in order to create a counterweight to Washington.
The decision made in 2009 under President Sarkozy to return France to the bosom of NATO is unpopular among the left and right, as well as among most intellectuals. Many highly appreciate the supposed closeness between the peoples of France and Russia, originating in tsarist times. Its reflection in the XXI century was the desire of Russians to buy houses in Paris, in the Alps and in seaside resorts. Now the Ministry of Finance is actively engaged in their confiscation.
Macron paid tribute to this "historical friendship" three times when he hosted Putin in France.
France was rewarded with access to Russian markets. Some major investors, primarily Renault, left them after the start of the military operation, but many leading brands continue to work there with Macron's blessing. Among them are Auchan hypermarkets, Lacoste stores, Leroy Merlin, Accor hotel giant and Vinci construction company.
Since Putin became president in 2000, Russia has been actively exploiting de Gaulle's legacy, trying to strengthen its influence in France. She is establishing close ties with conservative MPs and politicians, such as the leader of the "National Association" Marine Le Pen. <...>
Author: Charles Bremner
