"Ukraine is the smallest of the Russian dolls, the big Matroska being the war against the West" Caliber.Az interview with Olivier Vedrine

A blitz interview by Caliber.Az with French political scientist, an EU expert in the field of foreign and defence policy, president of the Continental University expert centre Olivier Vedrine.

- The main question that interests many is why did NATO decide not to send its troops to Ukraine?

NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - which is an independent, peaceful and democratic country, and a close NATO partner. The Alliance calls on President Putin to stop this war immediately, withdraw all his forces from Ukraine without conditions, and engage in genuine diplomacy.

NATO’s actions are defensive, designed not to provoke a conflict but to prevent a conflict. The Alliance has a responsibility to ensure that this war does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine, which would be even more devastating and dangerous. For NATO, enforcing a no-fly zone or sending troops would bring NATO forces into direct conflict with Russia. This would significantly escalate the war and lead to more human suffering and destruction for all countries involved.

- What is the reaction of French society to the war in Ukraine?

The international situation greatly worries the French, and that is why they want to remain cautious. 8 out of 10 French people say they are worried about the situation. As for Vladimir Putin, 93% of French people see him as a dangerous man. In these conditions, caution seems appropriate for our fellow citizens. Only 37% of French people are in favour of military intervention in Ukraine. Action on the economic level is therefore privileged: 84% of French people want economic sanctions to be taken against Russia and 83% are in favour of freezing the financial assets of Russian personalities because we know the sanctions are efficient.

Nevertheless, at the present time, these sanctions should not be taken at all costs, and we thus find an ambivalence, 61% of French people are thus opposed to sanctions which could result in an increase in the price of energy.

- In Russia, the war in Ukraine is seen as a fight against the West. Do you support this point of view?

If the West tries to circumscribe the Ukrainian conflict by continuing to arm the country to defend itself against Moscow's aggression, the Russian discourse on its war against the West becomes more and more audible. According to Russian General Rustam Minnikayev, “we are now at war with the whole world, like during the Great Patriotic War, when all of Europe, the whole world was against us. It's the same today, they never liked Russia”.

Since his 2007 Munich speech, this has been a reality for Russians. The elites have become intoxicated by this discourse and the propaganda in which the West has assumed all rights and seeks to humiliate Russia. They know that this conflict is directed against Western influence, NATO and the European Union. In this confrontation, Ukraine is the smallest of the Russian dolls, the big "Matroska" being the war against the West.

- In your opinion, how to stop the war in Ukraine?

There is only a military defeat that will stop Putin. In Ukraine, this is going to be a long conflict, with stop-and-go phases. A free Ukraine will not be tolerated by Putin. Putin will become also a threat to other states, such as Moldova.