Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for his idea that the West should consider how to address Moscow’s need for security guarantees to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to several media, including CBS during his US trip over the weekend, Macron put forward his idea for the West to somehow address Russia’s need for security guarantees should Putin agree to join the negotiation table in order to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Russia’s isolation is the worst possible solution to relations with Putin, he added.
“We believe it is through the policy of isolation that we can meet our goals,” Przydacz told Polish RMF FM radio on Tuesday. In his view, any calls with Putin only “strengthen him internally,” reaffirming his confidence in the West’s weakness.
Moreover, Macron’s argument about the need to satisfy Russia’s security needs would be incomprehensible for anyone in Poland and the Eastern European region, since it is not clear, against whom Russia wants to defend itself, the minister added.
It is Ukraine and the Central-Eastern European region that need guarantees against Moscow, the minister said, adding that Russia is not endangered but poses a danger to other countries. “We state that President Macron is wrong,” he added.
Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov’s reaction was even stronger.
The only security guarantee for Russia is the humanity of the European courts, as the International Criminal Court does not impose a capital penalty, he said.
Macron, who visited the US to meet with President Joe Biden last week, said he would have another call with Putin in the coming time to discuss NATO enlargement to the East.
Biden, for his part, said he would only contact his Russian counterpart if he showed a willingness to end the war in Ukraine and would do so in consultation with NATO allies.
A NATO source recently told EURACTIV that traditional NATO members, such as the US, France, Turkey, Italy, and Greece are said to be more “moderate” and want to avoid a zero-sum relationship with Russia.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
Source: euractiv.com
