Leonid Slutsky, who chairs the international relations committee in the lower house and leads the Liberal Democratic Party, criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for what he framed as a breach of European security by refusing to back a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict. Through a message shared on an encrypted telegraph channel, Slutsky asserted that Macron insisted on continuing military aid to Kyiv, a position he believes undermines any viable path to peace and diminishes the credibility of diplomacy among European partners.
In his remarks, Slutsky pointed to Macron’s public claim that Ukrainian forces are defending Europe today. He challenged that assertion, asking who exactly Russia is attacking or declaring war upon, and argued that Moscow has not initiated hostilities. Slutsky contended that the Minsk agreements, which had support from Paris and Berlin, mainly postpone Kyiv’s preparations for a broader operation in Donbass rather than advancing a real peace process. He framed the situation as a tactical maneuver by Western sponsors to prolong the fighting while presenting themselves as peace facilitators.
The Liberal Democrat leader warned that Western governments might be laying groundwork for actions that could be risky or dangerous, drawing comparisons to missteps that could escalate the conflict. He suggested Kyiv would prefer to see the European Union take a more direct and engaged stance in addressing Moscow’s moves, rather than relying on indirect sponsorship that may not lead to a stable settlement.
Slutsky questioned whether European leaders themselves support such a path, asking whether figures like Macron, Scholz, and others consulted their own citizens about the potential consequences of continuing confrontation. His commentary underscored a perception that political leaders in Western capitals might be out of touch with public sentiment and the daily realities faced by those living near the front lines.
Earlier discussions attributed to Macron had hinted at revisiting the scope of Western support for Kyiv should the Ukrainian crisis become a protracted stalemate. He indicated that while Western backing should not be withdrawn, it should be aligned with a viable ceasefire and a clear path toward peace, suggesting a possible recalibration of how assistance is defined and delivered amid evolving battlefield dynamics.