Will Macron’s ‘Combat Diplomacy’ Actually Do Anything for Ukraine?

Emmanuel Macron calls it “combat diplomacy.” The French president has vowed to make every effort to support Ukraine — including by hosting an international conference Tuesday meant to help the country make it through winter. In the longer term, he believes talks with Russia will be needed to find a path to peace.The international donors conference at Paris on Tuesday is intended to provide Kyiv with some immediate aid, both in financing and equipment. It comes in response to Russian attacks in recent weeks that have focused on civilian infrastructure and are aimed at “making the civilian population lose hope,” according to Mr. Macron.The French president has been championing tougher sanctions against Moscow since the war began and has stayed in regular touch with President Zelensky. On Sunday, the pair spoke by phone to prepare for the Paris conference that will gather the representatives of dozens of countries and focus on priority needs, including access to electricity, heating and water.In the meantime, Mr. Zelensky has requested for more weapons to help combat the Russian forces still hanging on in Ukraine. But he struck a slightly more conciliatory tone than usual during a video conference on Monday when he told host Germany and other leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers that “it would be right to begin the withdrawal of Russian troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine this Christmas. If Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine, then a reliable cessation of hostilities will be ensured.”He added: “The answer from Moscow will show what they really want there: either a further confrontation with the world, or finally an end to aggression.” But the Kremlin has rejected all previous appeals to reverse its land grabs in Ukraine, and it didn’t immediately respond to this latest one.For his part, Mr. Macron has been criticized in recent months by Ukraine and some other European countries who feel he has not kept sufficient distance from the Kremlin. The Frenchman is one of the few Western leaders to have maintained contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a long-term geopolitical strategy. He has repeatedly said he would talk to Mr. Putin whenever it was required to avoid an escalation of the conflict.Most recently, he said he would soon speak to him about the security of Ukrainian nuclear plants, especially the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which is Europe’s biggest.Ultimately, there will be a need for negotiations with Russia, Mr. Macron says. He has also insisted that the terms of any talks must be decided by the Ukrainian themselves.The French leader’s latest remarks on the issue prompted criticism in Kyiv and the Baltic states. Mr. Macron said on French television TF1 that the West should be ready for possible talks to end the war and seek a deal that would include “how to give guarantees to Russia the day it returns to the negotiating table.”Critics say it is Ukraine that needs security guarantees, not Russia.France has provided significant humanitarian, financial and military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor last February. The French government also sent its troops to bolster Europe’s defenses on its eastern flank.Mr. Macron continued his diplomatic activism during his recent state visit to the United States, where he spoke at length with President Biden about the situation in Ukraine. Mr. Biden voiced his support for the Paris donors’ conference while indicating he would be willing to talk with Mr. Putin if the Russian leader demonstrated that he seriously wanted to end the war.

Will Macron’s ‘Combat Diplomacy’ Actually Do Anything for Ukraine?

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