Macron and Zelensky call each other several times a day... but does the French president have any power over Putin?

Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his support for Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, during a meeting in which the two presidents showed great closeness. While France is seeking to play a central role in the ceasefire negotiations, Macron's real influence remains uncertain.

Yesterday in Paris, Emmanuel Macron once again received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and offered him the support of France and Europe. The French president clearly wants to play a crucial role in the ceasefire negotiations, but does he really have the means to do so? No. We could leave it at that. But things are obviously more complex.

Yesterday in Paris, the two presidents put on a show of sorts, exchanging many expressions of sympathy and even affection. “My dear Volodymyr”, ‘my friend Emmanuel’. It is said that they call each other several times a day. France also announced that it would be delivering new weapons, powerful, mobile Caesar cannons and Mistral Sol-Air missiles capable of destroying any flying aircraft.

At 9:00 p.m. French time, the Ukrainian president gave a long interview broadcast live across Europe to journalists from France, Germany, England, the Baltic States and Scandinavia - the areas which, along with Poland, feel most threatened by Putin. The answer to every question was almost always the same. Ukraine needs you. It needs Europe. But also, the only thing that would neutralize Russia would be for it to join NATO. But Zelensky is a realist and knows that Donald Trump is opposed to this.

Asked several times about his relationship with America and the humiliation he suffered in Washington, he remained very moderate. For he is well aware that without American satellites and the communications system developed by Elon Musk, his army would be blind, dumb and deaf.

As for the proposal supported by France and England to deploy a deterrent force in the second line to protect major cities and infrastructures in the event of a ceasefire, he didn't say no, of course. But we all know that on several occasions, he has expressed the wish to have European forces fighting on the front line, in the trenches, alongside his own soldiers. But this would be a real casus belli for Putin, who would consider them NATO forces and be capable of declaring war on us. And then we wouldn't be far from the apocalypse.

In the meantime, Emmanuel Macron is soon to convene in Paris a sort of coalition of democracies with the Europeans, but also the UK, Norway, Iceland, Canada and perhaps even Australia. This is no mean feat, of course. But in this great cenacle, there will be much talk, but little action. Because that's not where it's at, but in the room where Trump is discussing Ukraine's future directly with Putin. As for Macron and Zelensky, they're in the next room, in the antechamber, hoping, so far in vain, that they'll one day be let in.