“Aggression came from Moscow”
Macron’s advance causes astonishment in Berlin
12/04/2022 10:21 p.m
French President Macron wants to establish a sustainable security order in Europe – taking Russian interests into account. But in Berlin his idea met with rejection. It is said that NATO has never threatened Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s thoughts on a possible future security architecture in Europe are met with rejection from traffic light politicians. The SPD foreign politician Nils Schmid said “World”: “Macron’s words are surprising. NATO has never threatened Russia, but created a common framework for security issues with the NATO-Russia Founding Act.” Now is the time to ensure European security in front of and against Russia. “As long as Russia pursues an imperialist foreign policy, a pan-European peace order that includes Russia is not possible.”
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on Saturday, Macron said, among other things, that he had spoken to President Joe Biden about the future security order in Europe during his recent visit to the USA. “That means one of the essential points – because President (Vladimir) Putin always said it – is the fear that NATO will come to his door, is the deployment of weapons that can threaten Russia. This issue becomes part of the issues be for peace. And that’s why we have to prepare it too.”
The FDP foreign policy expert Ulrich Lechte praised Macron’s diplomatic efforts: “A good initiative, but the willingness of Russia and Ukraine is the basic condition for such negotiations. The aggression always came from Moscow.” His Greens colleague Jürgen Trittin told the newspaper: “Security guarantees are important – but not one-sided. Anyone who demands them must first spell out the promised security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Macron “turns things upside down”
Johann Wadephul from the CDU called the proposals “highly problematic”. Talks about this urgently need to be held in the EU and NATO. Macron is “turning things upside down” because Ukraine first needs security guarantees. “Above all, he regrettably encourages Russian propaganda when he portrays NATO as a source of security concerns.”
AfD parliamentary group leader Tino Chrupalla, on the other hand, welcomed Macron’s statements: “It is a sign of inadequacy for the traffic light coalition that this long-overdue push comes from Paris and not from Berlin.” Macron rightly points out that Russia’s legitimate security interests must be taken into account. Jan Korte, parliamentary director of the left, called for the proposals to be examined.