Editorial by Éric Marty, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Midi Libre, Monday June 6, 2022
He was said to be treated for cancer, weakened, it is not so. Vladimir Putin on Sunday sent a scathing response in the form of a threat to Joe Biden’s commitments to provide rocket launchers to the Ukrainian army.
Between blackmail and cleverly distilled vagueness, the master of the Kremlin warns the world that he will not give up after more than 100 days of offensive. Under the influence of Western sanctions, informed of the strategies put in place to dry up its energy economy, the Russian president also restricts foodstuffs to push for the isolation of Ukraine and reverse the pressure.
No winner
By disrupting the world economy and encouraging shortages, Putin is counting on a change in opinion, especially that of – close – Europeans. The war in Ukraine will have no winner, the UN said on Friday. The sentence signals an impasse: diplomacy is down and a military escalation would be a bet that Putin is bluffing on his abilities.
ERIC MARTY Deputy Editor