Future Publishing via Getty Images In the midst of the presidential election campaign, Emmanuel Macron is accused in particular of not having set foot on Ukrainian soil since the war began on February 24, 2022.
WAR IN UKRAINE – Between the international context and a second term in office, Emmanuel Macron has had to make priority choices in recent days. While he said he wasn’t “sure escalating words would serve the cause” after Joe Biden accused the Kremlin boss of a “dictator” spearheading “genocide,” Emmanuel Macron drew criticism from his Ukrainian counterpart on yourself.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to discuss and denounce a “genocide” in Ukraine on France 2 this Wednesday, April 13, as “very hurtful”. The spokesman for Ukrainian diplomacy reacted quickly, judging the French position as “disappointing”. “If they are true, such statements are very hurtful for us,” even the President of Ukraine added.
Zelenskyy stabs Macron
The latter did not fail to scratch the presidential candidate. Aware of the upcoming election date in France, Volodymyr Zelensky sent a spade to his liking to the head of state, who was more preoccupied with his second-round election campaign than with the war in Ukraine: I will do my best to raise this issue with him to discuss Mr. Macron today. If not, then tomorrow when he finds time.
Diplomatic imbroglio between France and Ukraine began after Joe Biden’s firm statement on the crimes committed on Ukrainian soil. On Tuesday, April 12, the President of the United States openly accused Vladimir Putin of causing “genocide.” A term that until then had only been used by Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
It must be said that since entering the presidential election campaign, Emmanuel Macron has been the target of criticism from Ukraine and its residents. Emmanuel Macron, who has been on the front line since February 24, has never been to Ukraine since the war began, while his British and American counterparts have already been there (directly in Kyiv for Boris Johnson and in Poland for Joe Biden). When asked several times, the head of state said he was considering a trip to Kyiv “only if it could be useful”.
The verb macroner comes from Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron’s role in the war in Ukraine also led to the creation of a new word. In fact, the phrase Macronete (translated to Macroner in French) is in the process of finding its place in everyday Ukrainian speech.
Ukrainians coined this term Macroner, providing an unflattering definition for Emmanuel Macron: being very worried about a situation, but actually doing nothing, we can read in a lexicon of words in the context of the war Ukraine on Telegram, as reported by Le Parisien.
The lexicon concerned even states that this term owes its origin to the French President, “who is remembered not for real help, but for his busy photos of the Élysée”. A direct reference to photos released by Soazig de la Moissonnière, the Élysée’s official photographer, which show the French leader looking worried, unshaven and tired, but from his office in full work on the war in Ukraine.
Beyond this expression, some Ukrainians quoted by Le Parisien even qualify Emmanuel Macron as a pawn in the pay of Vladimir Putin. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Vladimir Putin, had himself congratulated Emmanuel Macron on French television on France’s role: “President Macron’s efforts are greatly appreciated. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue that is taking place with President Vladimir Putin, he said on LCI on April 6.
On the same day, Emmanuel Macron was sharply criticized for his role in relation to Moscow by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during his telephone calls with the head of the Kremlin. Mr. President Macron, how many times have you negotiated with Mr. Putin? What have you got? Have you stopped any of these actions? Don’t negotiate or argue with criminals.” Words that had also evoked an immediate and decisive reaction from the tenant of the Élysée.
See also The HuffPost: Emmanuel Macron’s speech on Ukraine, March 2, 2022