Emmanuel Macron’s Ukraine mission buys time, but works no miracles
He is treading a perilous path between his own friends’ suspicions and Vladimir Putin’s belligerence
“I DON’T BELIEVE in spontaneous miracles,” declared Emmanuel Macron shortly after boarding the presidential plane from Paris for Moscow on February 7th. The French president looked unreasonably calm ahead of one of the more testing diplomatic trips he has made since he was elected five years ago. It was a test both of his ambition to take over as Europe’s leading diplomat and of his capacity to do anything meaningful to ease tensions in the crisis over Russia and Ukraine.
The dangerous tension in Europe’s response to Trump
By trying to stop the rift, Europe may hasten it
Can Friedrich Merz get Europe out of its funk?
A new Merz-mentum could reboot the Franco-German motor at the heart of the EU
Can Europe keep Ukraine in the fight if America really has bailed?
Investing in Ukraine’s own weapons industry will be the best bet
As Trump suspends military aid, what are the chokeholds on Ukraine?
The war-torn country can substitute some—but nothing like all—of the kit it gets from America
Europe vows to defend Ukraine, but prays for Trump’s support
A summit in London is stalked by the fear America will walk away