Just ahead of the meeting, Zelensky in an interview with Le Figaro hailed a change of heart in Macron. “I think he has changed, and changed for real this time,” Zelensky said. “After all, it is he who paved the way for the delivery of tanks. And he has also supported Ukraine’s membership to the EU. I think that was a real signal.”
Macron had angered Kiev when in June he said the West must not “humiliate Russia, so that when the fighting stops we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means.”
Macron has also come under fire for being among the only Western leaders to hold frequent phone conversations with President Vladimir Putin, in order to attempt a diplomatic breakthrough towards ending the war. But Ukrainian leaders have suggested such diplomatic efforts are a form of ‘capitulation’.
No diplomacy for these guys. I remember how Reagan was treated for talking to Russia? He ended the cold war without firing a shot.
“I remember how Reagan was treated for talking to Russia? He ended the cold war without firing a shot.”
And a lot of Trump’s diplomacy was similar, talking in person to Rocketman and Putin. IMO they were able to get the mettle of Trump, to see he wouldn’t back down and had the US’s interests at heart over anything personal or ideological.