Diplomatic efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the conflict in Ukraine have been a failure and “deeply dangerous” for Kyiv, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the previous NATO secretary-general, stated in an interview revealed on Friday (23 September).
“It was not a hit”, Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister who was one of many world’s most-senior diplomats till he left the transatlantic defence alliance in 2014, instructed French journal Le Level.
His feedback come after criticism, particularly in jap Europe, about how Macron stored an open line with Russian President Vladimir Putin with direct telephone calls even after the invasion of Ukraine and has warned towards ‘humiliating’ Russia.
“Macron astonished us at the start of the disaster together with his, to say the least, distinctive and important assertion that Putin shouldn’t be humiliated and provided an exit ramp. Such statements have been disastrous and deeply dangerous”, he added.
The French presidential workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Nevertheless, Rasmussen’s broadside comes at a time Macron is recalibrating his message and hanging a firmer tone towards Moscow.
In a speech delivered on the United Nations Normal Meeting, the French chief reiterated his perception that world leaders wanted to maintain up the dialogue with Russia, including that he would once more speak to Putin within the coming days to deal with the protection scenario linked to nuclear reactors located in Ukraine’s conflict zones.
However in line with observers, Macron’s un speech, during which he accused Russia of a modern-day imperialism and urged growing nations to facet towards Moscow, marked a shift in tone.
Macron acknowledged that peace talks can solely work if Ukraine’s “sovereignty is revered, its territory liberated and its safety protected.”
“Russia should now perceive that it can’t impose its will by navy means”, stated Macron.
Rasmussen was unconvinced.
“He has weakened worldwide cohesion, and I feel he’s now regretting this and attempting to regain the initiative”, he stated within the interview.
Following the top of his NATO stint in 2014, Rasmussen based Rasmussen World, a global political consultancy agency. He not too long ago visited Ukraine.
(Edited by Georgi Gotev)
