French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has stated that when the conflict in Ukraine comes to an end, it will be necessary for Western leaders to create a security framework that respects Russia’s interests. However, this raises questions about France’s commitment to supporting Kiev until the end.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Colonna acknowledged that while the West may have a negative view of Russia’s behavior, the reality is that Russia exists and will continue to exist. She emphasized that due to its geographical location, Russia is largely on the European continent, and therefore a solid security architecture must be established that takes into account the stability interests of all involved parties.
Colonna’s statement aligns with the stance of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been advocating for a discussion within Europe on how to provide guarantees to Russia when it returns to the negotiating table.
However, it is important to note that both Macron and Colonna still support Ukraine eventually joining NATO, a position that Moscow considers a significant security threat. Colonna reiterated France’s backing of Ukraine’s full sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, including its claims to Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea.
From Moscow’s perspective, the return of these territories is non-negotiable. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly stated that any potential peace agreement must recognize this new territorial reality, especially since Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye voted to join the Russian Federation last year.
Colonna is not the only high-level European official to propose extending security guarantees to Russia. Gergely Gulyas, the minister in charge of the Hungarian prime minister’s office, recently stated that peace talks between Moscow and Kiev cannot proceed without US involvement. Gulyas argued that while Russia does not possess the military power to threaten NATO-allied central Europe, Ukraine does not have the capacity to retake its former territories. He suggested that peace can be maintained through the deployment of peacekeepers.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also emphasized the need to involve Russia in the security architecture of Europe to ensure the safety of its citizens.
In sum, Colonna’s remarks highlight the importance of considering Russia’s interests when constructing a post-conflict security order in Ukraine. While France continues to back Ukraine, there is recognition that a balanced approach is needed to address the concerns and stability interests of all parties involved.
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