The massive Russian air attack that hit Ukraine overnight from Saturday to Sunday hit energy sites. A pattern which is repeated for the third time in three years, but which is part of a particular diplomatic moment, recalls French general Dominique Trinquand in Forum.
“For three winters, Russia has systematically struck Ukrainian energy sites in such a way as to affect production, but also the lives and morale of citizens,” underlines the former head of French mission to the UN. “This goes hand in hand with the offensives on the ground and corresponds to a very particular chronology: we are in an in-between period in the United States, between the election of Donald Trump and his arrival on January 20 at the White House.”
“We must prepare for extremely difficult negotiations”
Asked about German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s call on Friday to Vladimir Putin, the former soldier believes that we should not “associate the German Chancellor with the European position”. “He has just lost his coalition, he has to prepare for elections and he has always been recognized by all European countries as being rather soft, personally, on actions towards Russia. So it’s a bit pitiful. Let him prepare for his elections and not try to find a rope in international politics, particularly in this conflict,” he asserts.
For Dominique Trinquand, there is therefore no “break” in Western support for Ukraine, but concerns about the return of Donald Trump and the situation on the ground. “We have been saying since the start of the war that we must reconquer the territory up to the internationally recognized borders. But we know that militarily, today, it is almost impossible. So we will have to find another solution,” underlines -he.
“I think we need to prepare for negotiations, and these negotiations are going to be extremely difficult,” he warns, stressing that Vladimir Putin’s intentions and objectives remain uncertain.
>> Dominique Trinquand’s interview in Forum:
Swiss
