On social media, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterressaid he was “shocked by the footage of Bucha, Ukraine”, but stressed that “it is essential that an independent investigation leads to effective accountability”.
Already Emmanuel Macronalso on social media, wrote that “the images are unbearable” and “the Russian authorities will have to answer for these crimes”.
One explanation for the divergence is that the French president, a week away from the first round of the election, sees Marine Le Pen approaching, as a new Le Parisien poll highlighted on Saturday. From the Paris newspaper, opening the text:
“The ‘Ukraine effect’ is over. Macron, who until recently benefited from fears over the conflict unleashed by Russia, has seriously weakened on our Ipsos-Sopra Steria barometer.”
On Sunday, Le Monde, which does not hide its side, highlighted the analysis “How Le Pen was forgotten about the war”, stating that it “could have been swept away by its pro-Putin positions, but managed to avoid” the subject.
You are not alone in Europe. On Sunday night, as the New York Times home page put it, “Elections in Hungary and Serbia point to the extension of the governments of the two European leaders who are most Kremlin-friendly.”
Shortly after, Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vucic’s victories were reported.
DEEP ROOTS
In anticipation of the release of his book “The Age of the Strongman”, columnist Gideon Rachman wrote in the Financial Times about “What the war in Ukraine means for the age of the autocrat”. Focusing on Putin, Orban, Erdogan, MBS, Bolsonaro, Xi and Trump, he stated:
“It is possible that the catastrophe in Ukraine will discredit the strongman’s political style. But these hopes must be balanced by the awareness that this is a movement that has taken deep roots in the last 20 years.”
Above, the London Times illustration for its glowing review.
LEGACY OF MILITARY INTERVENTIONS
Also in the FT, an extensive account by correspondents in New Delhi, Riyadh and Johannesburg underlined:
“Ukraine won the information war in Western countries. Its message is amplified by Western governments and media. But in countries in Africa and Asia that struggled with the legacy of Western colonialism and military interventions, such as the Iraqi-led invasion by the US in 2003, the view is divided.”
They don’t “trust the West.”
RUSSIA & INDIA
Headlined in Jagran and other Indians over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian Chancellor Sergei Lavrov and “signaled to Western countries: India will decide according to its interests”.
It was after a week of US pressure against trade with Russia, especially the purchase of oil, which the Indian energy minister later reaffirmed to CNBC.
