When Viktor Orbán left the room in Brussels, he allowed negotiations to begin on Ukraine's EU accession, but then blocked the 50 billion in aid for Kiev. Is Europe continuing to blackmail the Hungarian Prime Minister?
“Yes, but unfortunately Orbán’s step is only the latest act in a dramatic situation for which the leaders of the major European countries, above all France, are responsible.” We are on the edge of the abyss.
Raphaël Glucksmann, 44 years old, left-wing MP in Strasbourg and head of a Place Publique/PS list that, according to polls, could be the surprise of the next European elections, points the finger at those who disappointed him: he didn't do it myself I don't put my hopes on the “Hungarian autocrat's apprentice”, but on the governments of the major countries of the Union, yes.
What is happening in Europe? Why do you think we need to “understand the gravity of the moment”?
“At the beginning of the war, Putin made two bets: the first was that the Ukrainian state would collapse, and he lost that bet; He then pointed out that Western societies and European democracies are unable to provide assistance to Kiev in the medium and long term. And beyond the proclamations, all the data on arms sales to Ukraine show that Putin is winning this second gamble.”
In Brussels, French President Macron defended himself by saying that France was doing its utmost to arm Ukraine, but also had to protect its own arsenal for national defense. Is it convincing?
“In the summer of 2022, Macron said we had to move to a “war economy.” Since then, no long-term contract has been concluded with the defense industry. The only concrete progress came from the Commission and the European Parliament, the European institutions that we normally accuse of bureaucracy and lack of effectiveness.”
If individual countries hesitate, what is the merit of Brussels?
“For example, the ASAP directive approved the shipment of ammunition to Ukraine in record time.” Only last week in Strasbourg, Commissioner Thierry Breton told us that although we will produce a million rounds of ammunition, only 300,000 will go to Ukraine become.”
How come?
“Because we continue to sell weapons to the United Arab Emirates, to Saudi Arabia, to South Africa and to Ukraine.” The problem lies not in industrial production capacity, but in the “business as usual” attitude. We have not yet understood the significance of the moment we are living through.”
Is Europe getting tired?
“Yes, and their leaders do not understand that we need to help Ukrainians not only because it is right, because they are heroically resisting aggression, because they are a democracy under attack by an illiberal regime. We have to help Ukraine because it is in our interest, because with Ukraine the entire security architecture in Europe would collapse. Just listen to what the Russians themselves say openly. When Duma Vice President Piotr Tolstoy says that “war is our national ideology,” it means that this is certainly not about Donbass or Crimea. The target is us, the democracies.”
In the USA, but also in Europe, the idea of a return to the previous status quo seems to be spreading, perhaps by ceding Donbass to Putin. And Ukrainian President Zelensky is increasingly seen as a maximalist who is hindering negotiations.
“Even after his election, Zelensky sought a compromise with the Russians. He only became war president because Putin decided to invade. But the temptation to stay halfway, not abandoning Ukraine, but not even really giving it the means to win, can also be seen in another way.”
Which?
“Russian assets frozen in Europe amount to 200 billion.” The European Parliament is calling for them to be moved to Ukraine, but Paris and Berlin consider this to be legally impossible. The Commission then proposes to give at least the nine billion in interest to Ukraine, but here too the governments are against it.”
Why?
“Perhaps because individual governments are under the illusion that they can return to the era of Chancellor Schröder and the pacts with the Russian tyrant.” That's why Orbán can keep the entire continent under control: he and Putin have the climate that prevails in Europe, captured perfectly. There is a lack of political leadership, and Macron, who could have taken it by positioning himself as the leader of the European resistance to Putin, gave up in the face of uncertainty and ambivalence. We need to give Europe more powers and create a common defense so that the entire continent is not held hostage by a nation of 10 million people and we really try to stop Putin. Donbass will never be enough.”