Macron to visit Trump: what's in it for Europe?
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Washington on Monday to talk about Ukraine with US President Donald Trump. In the run-up to the meeting Macron has said he wants to convince Trump to work more closely with Europe to achieve peace in Ukraine and to warn him not to be taken in by Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin. The European press takes a closer look.
Useful only after a ceasefire
Commenting in Izvestia, political scientist Sergey Shein sees Macron's trip to Washington as an indication of the role Trump sees for the EU in settling the Ukraine conflict:
“I would venture to say that the EU is seen by the Americans as an important link in Ukraine's post-conflict development. This is something that Trump would rather not deal with. In the process of moving towards a 'deal' and a ceasefire, however, he sees the bloc as completely superfluous. The US president is less interested in a vociferous row with his allies - even though he allowed himself the pleasure of teaching them a lesson for criticising him - than in cutting the amount that is spent on them.”
Strong EU alliance needed
Macron should be accompanied by other EU representatives, taz newspaper insists:
“Even if Trump doesn't take the EU institutions seriously, France and the other EU countries should seek allies within their own ranks. Because clearly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocking decisions and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico drifting towards Russia, the 27 EU member states can't agree on joint resolutions. So Macron would be well advised to take his Polish colleague Donald Tusk, who also represents Baltic interests, with him to Washington. Or Finnish President Alexander Stubb, one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters. A strong alliance within the alliance would prove to Trump that Europe is not afraid and has overcome its powerlessness.”
Seek the right balance
De Morgen argues in favour of a strong Europe:
“A strict balance of power is now the only way to return to the negotiating table as equals. ... That is what the Cold War taught us. In 1975, 35 countries from the competing West and East were able to conclude the Helsinki Accords containing agreements on security and cooperation in Europe. ... In line with the Helsinki spirit of those times it is therefore short-sighted of Russia to dismiss the proposals for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine as 'unacceptable'. Yes, in the short term it is our stick, but it is also our carrot, because only a strong Europe can guarantee stability in our shared neighbourhood.”