Bloomberg: US irritated by French President Macron’s position on Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has expressed irritation over French leader Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
“When it comes to the war in Ukraine, people familiar with the Biden administration’s thinking say the White House is annoyed that they think Macron is handling a sensitive diplomatic issue without consulting his allies,” the publication said.
As the agency notes, Macron’s desire to facilitate the start of negotiations not only casts doubt on Kiev’s ability to succeed in the expected counteroffensive, but also threatens the unity of the West as a whole.
Between April 5 and 7, Emmanuel Macron paid an official visit to China. After meeting with Xi Jinping, the French leader urged Europe to move toward strategic autonomy and to stop adjusting to the “American rhythm. He said Europeans need to “wake up” and think about their own interests.
Bloomberg, citing knowledgeable sources, reported that Macron wants to approach China with a plan that he believes can lead to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The French president has instructed his diplomatic adviser, Emmanuel Bonn, to work with Wang Yi, head of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, to create a basis for dialogue.
Macron’s remarks reportedly caused discontent among some EU members. According to Bloomberg, some countries were skeptical that China could serve as a neutral mediator, given its “boundless friendship” with Russia. Meanwhile, a European diplomat in Beijing said France might be able to bring the parties to the negotiating table, but he said then they might not know what to do when they get there.