Big fears: Why Macron and soon Scholz have to sit meters away from Putin

Created: 2/9/2022Updated: 2/9/2022 4:33 p.m

Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron in Moscow on Monday.

A distance meeting.

© Kremlin Pool/Imago

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine draw attention to Vladimir Putin.

Galileo dealt with the "secret everyday life" of the Kremlin boss before Chancellor Scholz's visit.

Munich - Vladimir Putin is currently the focus of world politics.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is also ringing alarm bells far away from Moscow.

In the course of crisis diplomacy, more talks are currently taking place.

Only on Monday: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Kiev, Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow.

With Putin.

Ukraine conflict: why Putin is keeping his distance

Macron and Putin spoke to each other for a full five hours.

Away from public view most of the time.

During the joint appearances in front of the media, observers may have noticed that Putin and Macron are not really close together.

While Ukraine President Zelenskyi always tries to demonstrate closeness, Putin kept his distance.

symbolic politics?

A sign of the differences between France and Russia?

At the press conference, too, there was a distance of several meters between Macron and Putin.

© Thibault Camus/dpa

Apparently, Putin's distance is about his own health.

"He's afraid of bacteria," said Tuesday on the television program "Galileo" (ProSieben).

In the article "Vladimir Putin's Secret Daily Life" journalist Ben Judah talks about "Putin's Secrets".

The Brit has researched the Kremlin boss for several years.

Putin expert: "He is very afraid of illness"

Judah says of Putin's concerns: "He is very afraid of illness, the risk of infection and bacteria." And that was before the corona pandemic.

That's why there is an air disinfection device in Putin's office to prevent infections.

Is that why Russia's president is keeping his distance from Macron?

Especially since the meeting is also under the impression of the pandemic?

After all, photos before Corona show Macron and Putin close together.

What speaks against this line of argument is that Putin is less particular about keeping his distance from other heads of state.

In addition to China's President Xi Jinping, the 69-year-old was extremely approachable a few days ago.

Two who understand each other - and like to show it: Vladimir Putin (left) and Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing.

© ALEXEI DRUZHININ/afp

Ukraine conflict: Kremlin praises Macron meeting - Scholz is coming soon

Regardless of any distance rules, Macron's meeting in Moscow was about solving the Ukraine conflict.

After the visit, the Kremlin recognized Macron's mediation efforts.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Macron for stressing at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that implementing a peace plan approved in 2015 was the only way to resolve the conflict.

"That's right.

And that's a plus," Peskov said, according to the Interfax agency.

Of course, crisis diplomacy does not end there.

On February 15, Putin and Olaf Scholz meet.

The Chancellor is traveling to Moscow - and will probably take a seat next to the Russian President at a little distance.