France-Russia relations: Macron calls for 'renewed dialogue' as domestic pressure mounts

Moscow has reacted with caution to the recent political innovations of French President Emmanuel Macron. While only yesterday the French President was attempting to lead an "alliance of the willing" to exert military pressure on Russia, he has overnight lowered his war-ready wings and begun speaking surprisingly about dialogue with Moscow. He stated that Paris and Moscow have restored communication channels at a technical level and argued that revitalizing dialogue will allow Europe to depend less on the US and protect its interests at the negotiating table regarding Ukraine.

Notably, in December 2025, Macron had already called on his European counterparts to resume contacts with the Russian leadership, but his plea fell on deaf ears. Even in the Kremlin, little significance was given to the moves of the French president, as they have grown accustomed to viewing European diplomacy as a "dance school," where the basic rule is the well-known saying: "two steps left, three steps right, one step forward, and two steps back."

The mutation of Macron

Now, Macron must seek a personal meeting with the President of Russia and announce it not only to all of France but to the entire world. Perhaps this is what will save him from the imminent no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition. The opposition parties "La France Insoumise" (LFI) and "National Rally" (RN) have already submitted motions of censure in the French National Assembly against the government of Prime Minister Lecorny, with a vote scheduled for next week. If the opposition wins, the Prime Minister and President Macron would have to resign, and France would proceed to early parliamentary elections, held alongside municipal elections from March 15 to 22 of this year.

The retreat

Macron has no other choice; the time has come to take "three steps left." France has grown weary of his unpredictable and ineffective policies, and restoring relations with Russia could reduce social unrest. However, the question remains: is it already too late to attempt to bring Russian diplomats back to the table? The anti-Russian legacy Macron has shaped during the war in Ukraine likely won't allow Moscow to harbor any illusions about cooperating with him. Macron's close relationship with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, raises doubts about whether he can be considered a serious interlocutor. How can one trust the sincerity of the French president's moves when at any moment he might turn and take "two steps back," destroying the entire process of the dance with the Russians?

A potential second reversal

Even if he manages to survive the no-confidence vote, he will likely quickly regain his "warrior" wings, his voice in favor of "Western values" will grow louder, and once again the classic "against Russia" rhetoric will be heard. Nonetheless, dealing with Macron remains a reality for Russia that it cannot fully ignore. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated: "Russia has always been a supporter of maintaining dialogue, as we believe this can contribute to solving the most pressing and difficult problems. They will not solve themselves, and conflict will not help us resolve them." Truly, it takes two to tango, and that is an indisputable fact. However, it is vital that while the steps are being performed, no one is preparing a "throw" over the shoulder. Given the existing precedent, we can conclude that Macron intends to jump into another "demilitarized" minefield of hybrid warfare without changing his anti-Russian stance.

Why Macron chose change now

Naturally, time is pressing for the French president. Running late, he must now catch the "derailed train" whose doors have already closed. However, Macron's invitation proved useful. In Russia, it can be seen as the first sign that the number of Europeans wanting to start a dialogue will increase. Firstly, because things are not going well in Europe. In Germany, power is shifting to a tightly-knit group of Germans under the leadership of the AfD, while in the United Kingdom, the Labour government is in a serious crisis that may lead to the resignation of Keir Starmer. Furthermore, the disruptive leaders of Hungary and Slovakia have shattered the idea of EU unity.

The European impasse

Is the revision of the role of Russia by Europeans the only solution to the deadlock? US dominance has begun to "exhaust" Europe, and the successful completion of Russia's Special Military Operation seems so inevitable that the belief in Euro-globalism is becoming a phantom pain. The frightening image of a dismantled EU leads Europeans to think about creating a new collective identity in which Russia will have a significant role. This need, however, will arise in the near future when the current generation of weak leaders is replaced by a new generation of politicians. Until then, their collective mindset is still burdened by a militaristic "weak mind," and leaders of EU states continue to convince each other of Russia's aggression while preparing for a collective war against it.

The role of the Baltics

While anti-war and anti-globalist forces in Europe continue to fight for their goals, the strategic and military imbalance between the EU and Russia becomes increasingly apparent. The EU is turning the Baltic region into a zone of military tension, increasing the number of military bases on the western perimeter of the Russian border, while psychologically preparing citizens for a military conflict with Russia. Russia will not remain a bystander to these preparations and will respond with appropriate measures. At that moment, many will wonder: has the alliance of the willing turned into a suicide club? This sense of a constant dance of conflict, with steps forward and back, is a warning of what might follow if Europe does not radically change course and seek a more robust and coherent dialogue with Russia. The world does not have time to wait.

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