29 may the President of Russia Vladimir Putin will visit Paris, where he will meet with the newly elected President of France Emmanuel Macron. The heads of States will open at the Palace of the Grand Trianon castle Versailles exhibition dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the visit of Peter I in France and hold talks. The main topic of discussion will be bilateral relations between countries, Ukraine and Syria. However, experts believe – to expect any significant decisions or breakthroughs from this meeting is not necessary.
With this visit Vladimir Putin will try to seize the initiative after winning the most disadvantageous for the Kremlin candidate in presidential elections in France, says political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko.
Putin is using this unexpected visit and wants to establish personal contact with Macron, wants to charm, to fascinate, even to show that he is not the enemy – on the contrary, to play on ancient historical sympathy between France and Russia
“This kind of political tactic that is used by Putin. He knew that he had lost the elections in France. And he is using visit wants to seize the initiative from the losers he wants to be winning. He is trying to forestall. He understands that the macron – a young and inexperienced politician, he has a biased against Russia, because Russia supported his rivals in these elections, either directly or indirectly. And he, I think, with this unexpected visit and wants to establish personal contact with Macron, wants to charm, to fascinate, even to show that he is not the enemy – on the contrary, to play on ancient historical sympathy between France and Russia,” he said.
As the candidate of political Sciences, senior researcher, Institute of world history of NAS of Ukraine Maxim Yali, from all four candidates who had the highest rating during the presidential elections in France, the macron was the least acceptable to Russia. But now, after his victory, which came as a surprise to the Kremlin, the latter understand that they need to improve relations, given the fact that France is a key EU country and participant in the “Normandy format”, playing an important role in resolving the conflict in the Donbas.
In addition, parties still have to smooth out the “rough edges” that arose during the election race. So, according to Yali, the position and policy of the Kremlin during the campaign not added positive bilateral relations, especially given the fact that from the Russian side there were attempts with hacker attacks to interfere in elections, and the Russian media gave Him the most positive rating.
Macron, for its part, is also interested in the negotiations, said Volodymyr Fesenko.
“Macron understands – he’s quite vulnerable. He won the election, by coincidence –it is a crisis of the elites, the crisis of confidence in the leading politicians. And, obviously, he is now seeking to enhance their status and their influence,” he said.
Now, on the eve of parliamentary elections, the new President of France is trying to attract to his side as the center-right and former supporters of the socialists, said Fesenko. At the same time, the Makron matter through a meeting with Putin to show that he is a respected political leader that came to him and with him unwilling to negotiate. Thus those who sympathize with Putin in France, so we can begin to sympathize with and Makron, he said.
Both sides are not yet ready to any agreements. So expect some result not worth it. This is a meeting for meeting to establish personal contact, and on each side their selfish motives
However, results from the first meeting of the two leaders should not be expected, experts say.
“Both sides have their pragmatic calculation. But both sides are not yet ready to any agreements. So expect some result not worth it. This meeting is to explore, establish personal contact, and then each side to their own selfish motives,” said Fesenko.
Reason to expect breakthrough solutions not because the trip was preceded by considerable preparatory work at the intergovernmental and interdepartmental level, said the expert in international law Anton kuchukhidze. However, this visit is important from the point of view that the parties will try to establish a dialogue for the solution of existing problems, he said.
The main topic of the talks between Putin and Macron will be the bilateral relations of Russia and France, in particular economic, experts say. As noted Kuchukhidze, economic interest, especially among French exporters to Russia has not decreased. And now the parties will seek opportunities in the face of sanctions the EU against Russia to make a profit and to develop cooperation.
“Macron is in a dual situation. It positions itself as eurocentrist. And from a political point of view, this means that it must adhere to the General line of sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreement are not met. But, at the same time, being an economist in power and their profession, and the fact that exporters in France have long been talking out loud about any easing of sanctions against Russia, it is necessary to reckon with and to deepen the economic partnership with Russia. He therefore not only economic interests will guide, he will tack on those two levels,” said Kuchukhidze.
Other topics of discussion will be Ukraine and talks in the Normandy format, as well as Syria, experts say. As a result of the dialogue, the parties will pereotsenit the Minsk agreement and commitment to common work in the framework of the UN resolution of a number of regional and global conflicts, predicts Anton kuchukhidze. The maximum that can be expected from this meeting can be an agreement on the establishment of some working groups to discuss the existing problems in economic cooperation, which is because of the EU sanctions against Russia, he said.
