BROKERING A DIPLOMATIC DEAL FOR UKRAINE???

There seems to be a real discrepancy between the rhetoric on the American side of the Atlantic and the European side. Within the EU clearly there is also a division of opinions. There are more hawkish nations: Poland, the Baltic states have gotten even further than the US in providing military assistance to Ukraine. And on the other hand, Germany, France, Britain and Denmark have ruled it out so far.

There are also differences in the position of the EU as a whole because there are different economic interests. France has always been largely independent in NATO. So their position historically is very different than the position of Germany.

A number of the NATO member states have officially refused to provide Ukraine with weapons, among them Germany, France, Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and the Czech Republic.

NATO is flexing muscles. Republicans use very strong language and they are very eager to supply Kiev forces with weapons. Within this context Europe tries to promote its interest but there is still no profound understanding that the peace can not be imposed without inclusion of people of Donbass, and a long lasting solution can only be found if these people’s interests are heard.

So in short there are many key stakeholders in the diplomatic arena and each certainly will have their say in any diplomatic deal that may be reached.

1. Russia
2. Ukraine
3. France and Germany attempting to broker a deal with Russia
4. France, Germany, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Czech Republic refuse to provide Ukraine with weapons
5. Poland and Baltic States provide military assistance to Ukraine
6. UK rallying the U.S.
7. U.S.
8. NATO supported by the U.S.
9. Council of Europe representing the 28 Member States

 Let’s hope the trip to Moscow by Germany and France does not recall Edouard Daladier’s and Neville Chamberlain’s trips to Munich in September 1938, resulting in the infamous Munich Pact blessing Hitler’s seizure of the Sudetenland.