Why would any European want to speak to Putin? I am curious what they are preparing to say to him.
As Secretary of State, George Shultz said, “Negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table.”
So, what sort of shadow of power is Europe going to cast? Confiscation of frozen assets? I don't think so. Deployment of troops in Ukraine or closing the skies? Not happening.
So I hope they figured out some other leverage, something that would actually shift Putin's mindset.
If not, it’s going to be at best a shameful photo opportunity or at worst – an attempted capitulation undermining a still-fighting Ukraine. Either way, why not just send a white flag? This meeting could literally be an email. No need for anyone to go and humiliate themselves in person.
Der Franzos hat - im Gegensatz zu Ex-Zwergstaatsaußenminister Landsbergis - natürlich keine Ahnung von der raffinierten Verschlagenheit primitiver russischer Barbaren und sendet deshalb trotzdem einen Emmissär an den Hof des Zaren:
(Emmanuel Bonne ist ein französischer Karrierediplomat und enger außenpolitischer Berater von Präsident Macron)