The war in Ukraine enters its three months this week, and if the exchanges between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, have been dense since the beginning of the conflict, the two men, of the same generation, it is an understatement to say that they seem to struggle to understand each other.
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However, even if, unlike other heads of state, the French president has not been to kyiv since the start of the conflict, we have seen him send arms and assure Ukraine of his support.
But when Emmanuel Macron speaks of territorial war, Volodymyr Zelenski thinks of a war of civilisation, explains Oleg Berezuk, director of the Institute of Politics and International Law in kyiv. “When we talk about the war between Ukraine and Russia, it is an ordinary war, of civilization, he points out. Russia is a totalitarian country, while we are a democratic country, with old democratic traditions.”
With, also, a misunderstanding on the European integration of Ukraine, a subject on which the Ukrainian president intends to go faster than his French counterpart.
“How can President Zelensky trust Emmanuel Macron when he proposes to save the honor of Putin, who kills civilians and children, and who not only has his hands in blood, but his whole body ?”
Oleg Berezukat franceinfo
The analyzes of the specialists join those of the street: Piotr, a resident of kyiv, wants France to understand that he is European. “Ukraine is Europehe hammers. She proved it well, by her resistance against Putin’s aggression. We want to join you!” Reach Europe if possible without “macroning”: the name of the French president has thus been hijacked in Ukraine, becoming a synonym for “taking your time”.