‘Macron Gives Russia An Ultimatum’

Europe is sending Putin a signal that the pressure will be increased.

Over the next 8-10 days, the international community should put even more pressure on Russia, said French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a recent statement after talking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump also mentioned sanctions against Russia.

What kind of pressure can be put on Russia? Charter97.org spoke about this with the famous Ukrainian political scientist, head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research Volodymyr Fesenko:

— The fact that pressure must be put on Russia and Putin in order to force them to peace and real peace negotiations has long been clear to many politicians and experts. This has long been understood in Ukraine, and most European leaders (primarily our country's partners) also understand it.

Another thing is that their capabilities may be somewhat limited, although in fact they can also do a lot in terms of increasing economic pressure on Russia. In particular, in the fight against the shadow tanker fleet. But it is important that there be joint sanctions efforts, political pressure from the US and Europe.

The role of the US here is decisive and I think that now the Americans have an additional tool for pressuring Putin. It is not only sanctions. Sanctions and the issue of sanctions pressure are being discussed, this topic is actively debated in the US, and Trump himself said that he could introduce so-called secondary sanctions against Russian oil on global markets. This could really seriously hit Russian interests, reduce Russia's income and opportunities for financing the war.

However, Trump's additional tool for pressuring Putin is the threat to simply stop negotiations with Russia. Putin actually wants a big deal with Trump. We must understand the goals of the head of the Kremlin: he has two of them at the same time.

He wants to achieve victory over Ukraine either militarily or by forcing peace on his own terms. For this, he wants to use Trump, but it is not working out very well.

Partially, let's say, it works. Trump is ready to make some concessions to Putin on NATO, and even now on the status of the Crimea, but nevertheless it does not work out in full.

The Americans set conditions to agree on various other issues. First of all, it is necessary to agree on ending the war.

Putin faces a choice: either he meets Trump halfway and agrees on a ceasefire, or the US must demonstrate toughness and simply clearly show that if Putin does not agree to immediately begin negotiations on a ceasefire, then there will be no prospect of further dialogue between the US and the Russian Federation. Including on various business projects, other issues, and especially the lifting of sanctions. Such an ultimatum must be given.

Putin should not give ultimatums to the West and Ukraine, but they should be in relation to him and the Kremlin. The US needs tougher, ultimatum-like rhetoric, and not the way it is done now.

It seems to me that the fatal mistake of the American administration and Trump himself is that they made preliminary concessions to Putin and used too soft tactics in negotiations with the Kremlin; pressure is needed.

Judging by Macron's words, a package of additional sanctions against Putin is currently being prepared by Europe. This should be a signal that either he really agrees to a ceasefire, or instead of ending sanctions, he gets them strengthened. Such an ultimatum.

The Europeans are trying to convince Trump that tougher actions against Putin are needed. The next week - until May 9 - is now of great importance. Since Putin proposed a so-called truce, I think that this will be used against him as well.

I emphasize that the Europeans are now convincing Trump that it is necessary to increase pressure on the Kremlin now in order to force it to start negotiations as soon as possible.

- Will economic pressure stop Putin? Or is he ready to fight despite it?

- You see, he wants both negotiations and war. He does not want to stop the war. Whether he will stop it or not is an open question. We cannot answer for Putin.

Putin can be forced to choose. I have already said that it is very important for him to preserve the prospect of negotiations and agreements with Trump.

If just sanctions, then I think that this will not be enough. Sanctions can have an effect, but not immediately, and may not have a full effect.

Now Putin can be pressured specifically on the issue of continuing negotiations with the Russian Federation. For him, this is perhaps even more important than lifting sanctions.

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