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French President Emmanuel Macron broke a taboo: He gave the green light to the use of French Scalp missiles against Russia, provided they are used against military targets that threaten Ukraine and not civilian targets .
It's a scenario that appears to have played out several times since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine 27 months ago: a heady debate ahead of a new escalation of Western military involvement in the conflict. This time, a big step must be taken: It involves authorizing the Ukrainian military to strike Russian territory with weapons supplied by Western countries.
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this week, French President Emmanuel Macron broke a taboo: He gave the green light to use French Scalp missiles against Russia, provided they are used against military targets that threaten Ukraine and not civilian objectives. Macron had prepared his announcement; he had a map in his hand to illustrate his point.
So far, only the United Kingdom has agreed to take this step, which the United States is refusing to do for its own missiles. As for Germany, Scholz has agreed with Macron, but refuses to supply the German-made Taurus missiles that can carry out this mission.
Hybrid wars are preferred
As in every phase of this conflict, it is a matter of "joint struggle" that we have been talking about for the last two years. It is difficult to define in precise legal terms. And history is replete with wars in which foreign weapons were used, even with advisers on the ground, without this principle being mentioned. There will be "mutual trust" the day Russia decides, and Vladimir Putin is already saying he is at war with NATO.
" This permanent escalation could have serious consequences ."
However, it raises again the question of Russia's possible response to greater Western involvement, especially if its soil is targeted by French weapons.
" This permanent escalation could have serious consequences ," Putin said Tuesday during a visit to Uzbekistan. However, he has never taken the risk of directly retaliating against a NATO country, preferring hybrid wars that are not always visible.
So far, the threat has never deterred the West. And Macron considers it less serious than the threat that the loss of Ukraine would pose to European security. This is the main reason for his tougher stance, even if the US seems to be faltering this time.
Biden under pressure
US President Joe Biden is on the campaign trail and doesn't want rising tensions with Russia to favor his Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Biden is under pressure.
The Washington Post published an unusual op-ed Wednesday by Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of a Ukrainian military drone unit. Fedorenko addresses the US president and describes how he saw, with his drones, his comrades being massacred in the Kharkiv region because the Ukrainian military is not allowed to fire US munitions into Russian territory, from where the attacks were launched.
Fedorenko calls for a change in US policy. The Secretary General of NATO and the Polish government have given their support.
In eight days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Biden will be side by side in Normandy, commemorating the Allied landings on D-Day on June 6, 1944. Remembering a war fought 80 years ago, to talk about what takes place today, on the other side of the European continent. The challenge for Zelensky is to change Biden's mind./ Adapted "Pamphlet" from "WorldCrunch"
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