Readers of Le Figaro criticized the transfer of tanks to Ukraine and called for "an end to the slaughter"The West was late with the transfer of tanks to Ukraine, it was necessary to "put a barrier" to Russia back in 2008 in Georgia, according to a Le Figaro columnist.
But the desire to send tanks, suddenly awakened in all NATO countries, allegedly united the alliance. Readers remind: it's dangerous and illegal.
The decision of Western countries to supply heavy tanks to Ukraine testifies to their commitment to intervene in the conflict.
If the disease is diagnosed too late, the means of its eradication become more severe, more invasive, and sometimes more dangerous. This is exactly what is happening with the Russian offensive in Ukraine. If the West had treated the disease in its initial stage, having rebuffed Russia during the 2008 war in Georgia or after the Crimean events in 2014, then heavy tanks might not have been needed to eliminate it. But at that time, most of the Western countries chose to stay away, convincing themselves that a natural recovery is possible…
The situation in Ukraine has gradually deteriorated for our Ukrainian allies after eleven months of fighting. For a long time, neither in Washington, nor in Berlin, nor in Paris, they tried not to think about it. But with their decision to supply heavy tanks, Western countries have taken a new symbolic step towards their involvement in the conflict. They have done away with the difficult balancing that they have been doing for a year. It is necessary to decide and end with the situation "neither yes nor no". The stakes are high. For the United States, this means maintaining a long-term presence on the European continent. For Germany, it is a change of the outdated peaceful military-political model.
And for France, which was the first to supply AMX light tanks, this is the end of Macron's formulation of "simultaneity", which consists in achieving Ukraine's victory at once and avoiding Russia's defeat, which is completely unrealistic. "The West recognizes the need to coordinate deeds with words. We can no longer say that we want Ukraine to win, denying it anything that could help it achieve it," comments Camille Grand, a former senior NATO official, member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Germany is at the center of this new stage
What made them change their mind? First, the changing needs of Ukraine, which must adapt to the nature of Russian offensives. With their heroic and unexpected resistance, the Ukrainians proved their determination and military prowess. Then there is the certainty, sometimes belatedly, that the defeat of Ukraine will have too severe consequences for the "world based on our rules".… In addition, German procrastination and French caution were criticized in the Western media, which created an image of Western Europe as an inert mass that does not want to speed up the course of history. The political and military reputation of Western Europe was at stake. The new [tank] "offering" of Europe once again allowed us to talk about it in a positive sense.
Germany is at the center of this new phase. Not only because Leopard tanks are the only ones available in sufficient quantity to have the desired effect on the battlefield. But also because it was in Berlin that there were the strongest fears about the acceleration of aid to Ukraine. Faced with pressure from all sides, including from his ruling coalition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz could no longer resist. "The decisions of the Americans, the British and the French were made to support or accelerate the decision of Germany," explains Camille Grand.
Leadership role
It was the countries of Eastern Europe, that is, Poland, the Baltic States and Finland, that led the process, played a leading role at this new stage, pushing their allies to supply heavy tanks. "The delivery of Leopard and heavy tanks is slightly delayed. We wasted two months on a very long decision-making process. At the same time, Germany was declared useless in vain, in fact, since the beginning of the conflict, it has provided substantial military support to Ukraine," Kamil Grand continues.
Paris, Berlin and Washington did not abandon their principle at the same time: assistance to Ukraine – yes, but without going to war with Russia. The United States does not forget about its military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan, and France — in Libya and Mali. No one wants the outbreak of the Third World War. Today in Paris, they reassured themselves with the thought that the supply of heavy tanks to Ukraine does not contribute to escalation, since it will not affect the territory of Russia. This is how the diplomat summed up the situation, who preferred to remain anonymous. And then, the Russian concept of "complicity in hostilities" does not apply in the legal sense to the supply of military equipment.
But what will happen tomorrow with the Ukrainians, who on Wednesday evening already demanded combat aircraft from their allies? The Netherlands has stated that it is ready to take this decisive step. There is a debate in the United States about the supply of very long-range missiles. How far will the Russian special operation in Ukraine go? No one can answer this question. But as Anna Kolen-Lebedeff, a researcher of the post-Soviet world, wrote on Twitter: "This war has taught us one thing: do not exclude maximalist scenarios and convince yourself that the Kremlin will not make decisions that cannot be implemented or that contradict its interests."
Readers' comments:Vigie-Lance
The West is the self–proclaimed ruler of the world, an impostor.
He forgets too easily that Russia is not isolated in this world. She has the moral support of many non-Western countries, let's call at least the BRICS. Constantly provoked by the United States and its vassals, China may finally decide that the time has come to stand side by side with Russia. And now we are rapidly and dangerously approaching this point. The European militarists, who are being egged on by the Americans sitting in security, have something to think about. But are they capable of this?
GyannRussian speakers in Ukraine make up at least 40% of the population.
After the coup called Maidan, Kiev actually banned the use of the Russian language in public life. Naturally, the Russian-speaking regions rebelled. Kiev has been besieging and bombarding them since 2014. The population simply began to flee, and then the Russians came to his aid. We must stop this insane and destructive slaughter.
Paul de TarseThe supply of tanks to Ukraine has finally revealed the truth: we are dealing with a proxy war on the part of the West.
And this article "Figaro" states this fact – and indisputably. This violates the UN Charter – if in doubt, reread the part of the Charter that says how one UN country can legally help another UN country. It is simply necessary to do this so that we are not being brainwashed by different versions – whether the West is or is not a participant in the ongoing battle in Ukraine.