From Prague, Emmanuel Macron called on kyiv's allies this Tuesday to "not be cowardly", warning against "the spirit of defeat", "which lurks", in the face of a Russia "that has become unstoppable".
From Stockholm, where he signed a letter of intent to strengthen cooperation in military matters with Sweden, the social-democratic German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, grappling in recent days with leaks from the Bundeswehr, did not hardly tasted the French president's lesson in bravery.
“We don't need discussions about having more or less courage,” he said at a press conference in Stockholm with his Swedish counterpart Pal Jonson.
“It doesn't really help solve the problems we have when it comes to helping Ukraine as much as we can,” he added.
The French president “acknowledged” on Tuesday that he had called from the Czech Republic for a “strategic surge” by raising the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine.
He also felt that Europe was entering a moment “where it would be appropriate not to be cowardly”, as a warning to its Western allies.
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Emmanuel Macron calls on Ukraine's allies “not to be cowardly”
The Swedish Defense Minister for his part considered that it was “important to keep (our) unity” to support Ukraine.
Germany and Sweden have signed a letter of intent to strengthen their cooperation in military matters, particularly in training and exercises.
Pistorius learns about the Swedish conscription model
According to Der Spiegel, Boris Pistorius wants to learn more about the Swedish conscription model during his trip.
Compulsory military service has been in force again since 2017, while Emmanuel Macron is breaking the taboo of ground troops.
The minister clarified that he “has not yet made a preliminary decision”.
“It is good that the Minister of Defense frankly addresses the question of compulsory service,” judges the military expert who advises the German magazine.
An opinion that radical left MP Sahra Wagenknecht does not share: “It is bad enough that the communications disaster in the Bundeswehr following the use of the Taurus missiles has led to speculation in Russia about the entry into war of Germany”.
“The fact that Pistorius is now fueling such speculation by discussing the reintroduction of compulsory military service is beyond stupid,” she told Spiegel.