Comments by French President Emmanuel Macron have especially upset governments in EU countries that were once Soviet satellite states or constituent republics. “Are we to reward Russia because they have not done anything grotesque in the past few months?” one EU diplomat asked. This in turn could weaken the resolve of Western-backed governments to stand up for Ukraine, diplomats said. Baltic states, once part of the Soviet Union, fear a Russian trap to block Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO and the EU. EU diplomats from eastern, Baltic and Nordic nations have said they are confused by Macron’s approach, questioning what has changed in Russia to merit a renaissance in relations.

Source: Taipei Times October 06, 2019 16:07 UTC