When Absence Is The Most Cumbersome Presence – OpEd
Efforts to continue the war are a terrible diplomatic mistake by some European countries.
For days, the most popular European media have been hosting a photo that deserves more thoughtful reflections than those that accompany it as a fact. The photo shows the leaders of France, England, Germany and Poland with Zelensky and the usual comment is that the self-described “willing” phone Trump to confirm their support for the Ukrainian leader.
That photo, contrary to the comments that accompanied it, not only certifies a great diplomatic defeat, but also testifies the inability to contribute constructively to the possibility of peace. Meanwhile, that term “willing” poses a question, willing of what? And the answer is as unjustified as it is irrelevant: willing to continue the war, an absurd claim all the more so since the hypothesis of a military presence of troops is even dangled. Given the peace efforts, decisively supported by the new Pontiff directly with Ukraine and Russia, the desire to insist on war is truly a dangerous mistake.
The most senseless war of this beginning of the century, the European one, unleashed with a very serious violation of international law, (Russia), to face a very serious desire to violate the essential security of a country ( NATO) – of the series when both sides are dead wrong – risks turning into a tragic farce for Europe.
At a time when diplomatic reason, with difficulty and on the tragic graves of tens of thousands of innocent victims, seems to be approaching the moment of a peace that is too delayed, there are those who want to continue the spirit of confrontation. In that photo is missing Italian PM Meloni. Good news. The photo that presents 4 “willing” in conversation with the first great – irresponsible (?) – victim of this useless war, PM Zelensky is not an act of exclusion of Italian diplomacy, as a bad habit of wanting to criticize the opposite side on principle, but vice versa a resounding distinction that actually puts those present in the photo in a bad light. At a time when peace negotiations are starting, what reason is there to want to affirm the intention to continue the war?
That photo is an act of lack of political realism. England, France, Germany, Poland, with the Presidency of the European Union, have infested the media for years with anti-Russian statements – more than justified for Russia military aggression – ignoring, however, the very serious NATO provocation to get its weapons to the courtyard of Moscow. Kennedy declared that he would raze Cuba to the ground, with full reason, since he could not accept nuclear missile installations 1500 km from his territory. Why should Russia accept nuclear missile installations 500 kilometers away from Moscow when America did not allow them at a distance of three times? The passivity with which the European Union ignored this simple security reality that prevented peace talks when war was raging, now turns into a specious continuation of the war atmosphere.
That photo certifies that those excluded de facto from the real negotiation of peace, a fact certainly of no minimal diplomatic gravity, react by proposing to continue the war with reserve troops. But have they asked permission from the European population to do so? Contrary to a bad media narrative, Europeans consider Russia part of their culture. And the very serious mistake of considering it extraneous, which on the diplomatic level has favored the Russia-China alliance, must be remedied by reopening the channels of cultural, sporting and social communication, not stubbornly engaging in anti-Russian policies.
It is now clear that the peace achieved with the absence of those who participated in the war – the European Union – is in itself a diplomatic defeat. But Europe is diplomatically defeated for having pursued the absurd Russia-Ukraine war events in an absolutely uncritical way. UE participated with total unjustified ardor in the war, now that peace is approaching it is obviously being set aside.
Russia did very badly to unleash the war. That must be clearly declared. That never has to happen again. But Europe was wrong not to intervene to dampen further NATO aggression. NATO was a fair and correct structure that opposed the pro-USSR military structure of the Warsaw Pact. It has a just and justified reason for permanence as a security of the members components, but not as an openly aggressive force against Russia.
It is clear that in the peace between Russia and Ukraine, there are important peace issues for European security: the security for Europe of the new borders first of all. The downsizing of the philosophy of automatic NATO intervention when a part of the alliance’s territory is in danger. UE mst be declared safe from any aggression. But these issues must be addressed with the reservation of those who recognize that peace is possible, and it is in that perspective that these just diplomatic reasons must be addressed, first of all with an internal debate within the union. Second directly with Russia.
The persistent warlike atmosphere of the president of the European Union is absolutely misplaced. Sorry to say it, but it has the tones reserved by German security against Russia rather than the tones of the European Union. Germany now – fortunately for her and for the others – is within a European community, in which there is France – fortunately for her and for the others – and there are 27 countries interested in their own security. Russia made a tragic mistake by unleashing the war. NATO has made a mistake by wanting to bring its borders a few hundred kilometers from Moscow. But the worst mistake was that of Europe, which never mediated for a just peace solution. Obviously, therefore, the EU is excluded from diplomatic tables.
But the correct answer is not that of the four photographed with Zelensky. That photo, far from indicating a significant presence, certifies a burning diplomatic defeat. As mentioned, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian PM was missing from that photo, and the fact was treated by the opposition to the government as a serious weakness of the PM. For once, criticism of the government is absolutely misplaced. Why should Italy engage in the prosecution of the war when the most responsible forces are fighting for peace? This time the absentees are right.
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