The leaders of around thirty countries convened in Paris on Thursday to discuss further support for Ukraine. Although there was no consensus on the deployment of peacekeeping troops to secure a potential ceasefire, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a Franco-British mission was being put together and emissaries from both countries would be travelling to Ukraine in the next few days to discuss the plans. What can this achieve?
Ineffective group therapy
Without Trump’s backing the idea of sending European peacekeepers is unrealistic, writes Ukrainian political scientist Serhiy Taran on Facebook:
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“Even the most willing European peacemakers won’t dare to cross the Ukrainian border unless Trump gives them security guarantees. Which he won’t do because Putin is against it. Trump also knows that he can quickly bring the Europeans back down to earth by threatening them with withdrawal from Nato. ... That’s why the summits of the ‘willing’ are more like group therapy sessions in which the patients talk about their suffering and promise each other to take resolute action. But effective therapy can only begin in military factories and on army training grounds.”
Imposing words but little action
For Germany’s the Stuttgarter Zeitung the ‘coalition of the willing’ is nothing more than a paper tiger:
“France’s President Emmanuel Macron would not be averse to leading the coalition, but he must admit that apart from imposing words he’s done little to support Ukraine’s defence. ... In figures: to date, Paris, Madrid and Rome have paid less in support for Ukraine than little Denmark. And then there’s powerful Germany, which as things stand now is mainly preoccupied with its own affairs. What’s more, it’s not only unclear how this aid will be financed, but also how a possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia could actually be secured militarily.”
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Don’t count on the US for help
This won’t be easy without the US, Italy’s La Stampa puts in:
“The Europe of the willing is one that hopes for the best but is not blind, and is therefore preparing for the worst. It is a Europe that realises that the US is no longer a reliable ally. Washington has no intention of helping Europe, which is in turn determined to support Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron has recognised this. ... If the Europeans were to ask Washington for support in areas where they lack capabilities, from logistics to intelligence, or if they were to be provoked or even attacked by the Russians, Washington would most likely simply wash its hands of the matter.”