Thread by @KeirGiles

There are so, so many reasons why this seems a deeply misguided initiative. Where shall we start.

#France #Russia #RollOverForPutin

en.rfi.fr/europe/2019090…

2/ Resets don't work if you ignore the underlying deep differences in world view and strategic priorities between Russia and the West. Trying to patch up a fundamentally flawed relationship is no substitute for an honest conversation about what is wrong with it.

3/ In fact, they make things worse. Each time (and it happens routinely) that Russia is forgiven for its appalling behaviour, it encourages the Kremlin to believe that it will be forgiven for even worse excesses in the future. And why wouldn't they.

4/ There is even a recent and direct case study. France has played a key role in imposing ceasefires drafted in Moscow on the victims of Russian aggression. Or has Georgia, and the conclusions Russia drew from 2008, already faded from memory?

5 and P.S./ All of the above IS NOT NEWS; these are fundamental principles of dealing with Moscow, consistent over not decades but centuries, but repeatedly forgotten, or ignored, by Western leaders who think they can go against history. Quotes all from amzn.to/2SKa8ND