The Russian and Chinese press focuses on the developments that await Ukraine and Europe after the end of hostilities. The German and French press approaches the same issue from the point of view of particular European interests and stakes. At the same time, Turkish analysis warns that in the long run Russia may face significant problems on the international scene.
European publications approach the possible outcome of the war in Ukraine from the perspective of Europe's interests, stakes and security. An opinion article published in the German Handelsblatt entitled "Brussels makes false promises to Ukraine" and dated March 1, points out that the EU can strengthen Kiev with realistic moves and promises. Otherwise, at the end of the showdown, the EU may "risk appearing unreliable. Brussels has always raised suspicions that it promises much and keeps few promises. The German newspaper Zeit, in an analysis entitled 'Can NATO defend itself?', published on 2 March, poses the following question: "What would happen if Vladimir Putin, after a victory in Ukraine, is tempted to test NATO's promise of assistance contained in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty?" According to the newspaper, the North Atlantic alliance will have to seek a multidimensional answer to this crucial question.
On the current phase of the war in Ukraine and the next day of the crisis, the French newspaper Le Monde featured on March 2 the views of historian Thomas Gomar, according to whom Russia is currently attempting to impose a new balance of power across Eurasia by terrorizing the West. According to the French historian, the Russian invasion of Ukraine paves the way for a review of a number of crucial issues such as the future of nuclear weapons. At the same time, it focuses our attention on areas of tension. "The greatest tension is at the crossroads between Europe, the Baltic and the Black Sea bordering Russia. On the Pacific side, the China Sea, Taiwan, Korea and Japan are the areas of confrontation," adds Gomar.
On the same subject, Figaro, in an article entitled "Macron's Ukrainian conversion", signed on March 1 by Isabelle Lasser, focuses on the French President's change of attitude to the Ukrainian crisis since the beginning of the Russian invasion. "The French president's many initiatives since his election to 'warm' relations with the Kremlin were motivated in part by his belief that Russia is deeply European," writes Lasser, who adds that after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron changed his strategy and hardened his stance towards Moscow.
The evolution and possible results of Russian military operations on Ukrainian territories are put under the microscope by the Turkish strategic studies center "Seta", in an analysis published by the official website of the center entitled "The political and military assessment of the Russian offensive in Ukraine". The analysis summarizes the military and diplomatic facts in the Ukrainian Crisis at the beginning of the hostilities and concludes that the West failed to prevent Russian aggression. Furthermore, it states that Russia may in the long term face problems in the field of international law as it violates the (security) system, the roots of which go back to the Treaty of Westphalia, the basic principles of the founding treaty of the UN and appears on the international scene as an aggressive power.
The Russian Pravda in an opinion article entitled "How Ukraine will be reconstructed", published on 26 February, focuses on the next day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The article puts forward the view that the latest statements by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, foreshadow Russia's roadmap for post-war Ukraine. According to Pravda, after the "denazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine, "referendums are likely to be held in all regions of Ukraine. This will not happen in a year or even two, but only when Russia restores its former economic ties with Ukraine."
Focusing on the Ukrainian Crisis, Komersad goes a step further and asks whether the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the long run will pave the way for the emergence of a new security system in Europe. "(In the West) the prevailing view is that the Russian leadership is trying to recreate the Soviet Union. This is a distorted interpretation of the motives of Russian foreign policy," says an opinion piece by Russian academic and internationalist, Andrei Sushensov, published by Komersad on March 1. The Russian expert criticises the US on the grounds that its ultimate goal is "to support the maximalist demands of the Baltic states, Ukraine and Poland against Russia". In the shadow of Russia's major differences with the US and the West, Mr. Susentsov concludes: "In order to stop Europe's slide into a major military crisis, efforts are needed to reach a political settlement between Russia and NATO. An important basis for such negotiations should be an in-depth analysis of the partner's positions and constructive empathy."
[/P]The Chinese press also focuses on the next day of hostilities in Ukraine. The English edition of the "China Daily", in an opinion article published on March 2 and signed by Yang Siwiking, puts forward the view that the sanctions against Russia will not bring the expected results. On the contrary, it is possible that they will cause new problems and complications in the international economy. In an editorial published on 1 March, entitled 'The world must unite to overcome the divisions of the Cold War', the newspaper writes that diplomacy is the only way out of the Ukrainian crisis. "Despite the difficulty of the negotiations, negotiators should make every effort to address the realistic demands of each side," says the China Daily article, which concludes with the following message: "This, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, means common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries, and regional security should not be ensured by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. The concerns of both sides must be taken into account and a practical solution must be found which can create space for a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism agreed through dialogue and negotiations."
Source: CNA
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