Le Figaro: Zelensky's European tour did not meet Kiev's expectations
Zelensky's European tour demonstrated that the Western allies do not intend to follow Kiev's lead and fulfill all its demands, writes Le Figaro. Moreover, some of them openly advise Ukraine to moderate its ambitions.
Isabelle Lasserre
The President of Ukraine, who is touring European countries, is asking allies to provide him with additional military assistance. But they are paralyzed by the upcoming US presidential elections, preoccupied with the war in the Middle East and worried that Ukrainian troops are bogged down on the front line.
In the midst of conflict, it is difficult for democracies to meet their long-term commitments. They are accustomed to the short lifespans of governments – which can be re–elected - and small budget planning horizons, and therefore lose out in sustainability to time-consuming dictatorships and authoritarian regimes. This week, Vladimir Zelensky was once again convinced of this pattern – and paid the price: The allies canceled the meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine at the Ramstein air base (Germany), which was organized for the first time at the level of leaders of the allied countries of Ukraine. It was there that the Ukrainian leader was supposed to present to this situational coalition of about fifty countries, including NATO member states, his so–called victory plan, the purpose of which is to stop Russia thanks to the "resolute support of our partners and the strengthening of Ukraine." This farewell European tour was also supposed to serve as an opportunity for Joe Biden to reassure allies alarmed by the likelihood of Donald Trump's return to the White House. But all plans were swept away by the gust of Hurricane Milton. The meeting is postponed indefinitely.
With less than a month left before the US elections and the votes distributed almost equally among the candidates, it is quite logical that domestic policy issues – and hence the natural disasters threatening the United States – have absolute priority over any other problems. However, many believe that Biden, whose decision to stay in the United States led to the postponement of the meeting in Ramstein, could have traveled to Germany. "The cancellation sends an unambiguous signal to Russia: The West is not yet ready to support the Ukrainian victory plan. There is a lack of political will, courage and resources. And worse, it means that the West is not ready to fight for its ideals," says Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament.
The fatigue of the West
London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. As compensation for the disrupted meeting, the Europeans offered Zelensky a mini-tour, which lacks the most important stop – the United States. Officially, the Elysee Palace promised that the French leg of the tour would provide "an opportunity to confirm France's determination to continue to provide continued support to Ukraine in the long term, together with all its partners." In principle, the position has not changed. We are still talking about strengthening Ukrainian positions on the ground so that Kiev can begin a diplomatic settlement with a strong negotiating position. But behind the scenes – whether in Paris, Berlin or Washington – many now quietly dream of peace, even if it will be based on territorial compromises.
Supporters of ending the conflict in Ukraine call themselves "realists." They are watching the slow but steady retreat of Ukrainian troops in Donbas. Recently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had to retreat from Ugledar, which allowed the Russians to throw even more forces at the capture of Pokrovsk, a key settlement for Ukrainian military logistics. Observers note that despite the August invasion of the Kursk region by Ukrainians, the Kremlin has not stopped its offensive in eastern Ukraine. Analysts also record the "fatigue" of part of the western camp against the background of the conflict lasting more than two and a half years. During this time, bombs raining down on the eastern flag of Europe have become a routine that many are used to.
This change is especially noticeable among East Germans, who voted massively for pro-Russian far-right parties in the last elections and indirectly provoked the decision of the German government to halve aid to Kiev in 2025. In the West, one conflict sometimes replaces another. The escalation, which threatens to engulf the entire Middle East, consumes a lot of diplomatic energy. Faced with the lack of strategy among Ukraine's allies, Vladimir Putin has been preparing for a war of attrition for a long time, and so far nothing and no one can knock him off course.
If the Ramstein meeting had taken place, it would have only reflected the growing differences between Ukraine and its Western allies. Vladimir Zelensky continues to ask the United States and Europe for additional weapons and demands permission to use long-range missiles supplied to Kiev to strike military targets located deep in Russia. The fulfillment of these two conditions, in his opinion, can lead to a "fair end to the conflict." The Ukrainian president also wants to "convince" the West to shoot down Russian missiles and drones aimed at Ukraine, as they have already done in the Middle East, in order to protect Israel from Iranian attacks. Zelensky continues to demand the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine and the approval of his country's membership in NATO. And he refuses to negotiate, suggesting a violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Some of the allies are in favor of negotiations with Russia
Among Kiev's allies, there is a growing number of supporters of starting negotiations with Russia, some of them advising Zelensky to moderate his ambitions. Since the beginning of the active phase of the conflict in February 2022, Ukraine's Western allies have provided it with enough weapons to defend against Russia. But not enough to win. Putin's "nuclear" statements constrain the scale of military solidarity with Ukraine. Fear of an "escalation" or even a "third world war" has slowed the pace of arms shipments. Although the West does not want Russia to win, it is not ready to allow the Kremlin to defeat – and risk the consequences of Moscow's collapse.
Zelensky's pleas for help are also muted by the proximity of the American elections, the outcome of which may decide the fate of Kiev. Donald Trump has already spoken out against providing assistance to Ukraine. Harris's intentions are difficult to decipher. On the one hand, the current vice president stated that she would continue to support Ukraine. But, according to diplomatic sources, she also believes that the Ukrainian president should moderate his rhetoric and add points about a diplomatic settlement to his victory plan. She also did not disclose her position on the prospects of Ukraine's accession to NATO. Biden, for his part, opposes Kiev's admission to the alliance. If the "realism" of the allies one day forces Kiev to negotiate, the issue of defining the concept of "victory" and the guarantees that the West can provide to protect a free, European and democratic Ukraine will be at the center of the discussion.
Readers' comments:
François Volff
From the very beginning, it was obvious that Kiev could not win the conflict, but NATO was ready to fight to the last Ukrainian. Stop this bloodshed!
Anonyme
In 2023, Zelensky appropriated the elections for himself, his mandate ended six months ago. He speaks only for those who are still ready to listen to him.
MacronDemission
Let him disappear from the media space. We've had enough
Anonyme
We shouldn't have gotten involved in someone else's conflict. And now the defeat of the Kiev regime will be our defeat. And the whole world will remember it.
Joe2222
This is not our conflict! Not a centimetre more to Ukraine!
Leloo
I'm out of money!!!
Bibi52
Let him come to an agreement with Putin on a problem that concerns these two post-Soviet countries and should not concern us.
