The place is the same, the climate is different: five years ago o Emanuel Macron began his term in the presidency of France, welcoming with great pomp the President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the Palace of Versailles. Now, it ends with welcoming European leaders, all united against the Russian president.
Vladimir Putin’s shadow was wandering in the afternoon in the Marble Court, where Macron welcomed the other 26 leaders of European Union states and governments.
There were more smiles on the red carpet, but the statements showed everyone’s concern about this “war in Europe”. Like Macron, who appeared pessimistic, no one dared to predict a “quick end” to the war that began with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago.
The atmosphere was heavy when the 27 found themselves around the huge table in the living room of Hercules, near the royal apartments. The contrast with the luxury of the walls and the painted ceiling was obvious.
And the atmosphere is expected to be just as heavy at the dinner hosted at the gilded, iconic Hall of Mirrors, the most luxurious room in the palace.
France had decided to hold this informal summit in Versailles long before the war broke out on 24 February. Mainly for practical reasons, since the palace is very close to Paris and is relatively easy to guard. The French authorities, however, say they are aware of the contrast between the luxurious, gold décor and the images of the bombed-out Ukrainian cities and the civilians fleeing to Europe.
Although the summit is being held in a palace, “it’s not a celebration,” said Clement Bonn, Undersecretary of State for European Affairs.
The situation was very different when, on May 30, 2017, the new president of France guided Putin to Versailles and showed him the tables with the great French victories in the wars. The newly elected president then sought to rekindle Paris’s relations with Moscow, which had gone through a period of tension due to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the conflict in Donbas, in eastern Ukraine. At the press conference at the end of the meeting, Macron had adopted a conciliatory style, calling for the “de-escalation” of tension.
“Sanctions against Russia do not contribute at all to resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” Putin replied.
In his five years in office, Macron used Versailles more than any of his predecessors. There he also welcomed the heir to the throne of Japan Naruhito and hundreds of “bosses” of multinational companies.
For Europeans, the palace is also the site of the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, the peace treaty that officially ended World War I.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
