Failing to act hastily, it was at least a matter of reacting urgently.
Upon the announcement of Vladimir Putin's speech on Monday evening, and the confirmation of his intention to recognize the independence of the pro-Russian separatist regions of Ukraine, Emmanuel Macon immediately convened a Restricted Council for Defense and National Security (CDSN ) at the Elysee.
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Among the various personalities gathered around the Head of State - some participants attended by videoconference - were in particular the ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Florence Parly (Armies), and Bruno Le Maire (Economy , Finance and Recovery).
A casting that alone is enough to summarize the agenda of the meeting: analyze the situation in all its dimensions (diplomatic, of course, but also commercial and military), and study all the possible scenarios to respond to it.
A life-size test of which he had not measured the extent in 2017
That of the possible sanctions that France and the European Union could quickly inflict on Moscow was one of the first on the table, insofar as it is applicable in the short term, and that it allows a gradation of the response before a hypothetical use of force.
After evaluating some two hours during each scenario and its possible consequences behind closed doors at PC Jupiter - the Palace's underground anti-atomic bunker, reserved for this type of ultra-confidential and classified secret-defense meeting -, Emmanuel Macron spoke with his American and German counterparts, Joe Biden and Olaf Scholz, by telephone.
Exchange at the end of which the French president "condemned" in a press release an "attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine" by Russia, which was guilty according to him of a "unilateral violation" of its international commitments .
Calling for an "emergency meeting of the UN Security Council" and "the adoption of targeted European sanctions", Emmanuel Macron seemed to take note of the impasse in the path of dialogue on which he had bet so far .
An acknowledgment of failure, for those who hoped to take advantage of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union to regain a role of mediating power in the concert of nations.