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## Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy: Is France Sidestepping Kiev in Ukraine Talks?
**Archyde:** Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statements have ignited a firestorm of discussion. He claims France is proposing back-channel dialog on the Ukraine crisis, notably *without* Ukraine’s participation. what are your thoughts on this alleged move by France and it’s potential ramifications?
**Expert:** Lavrov’s revelation undeniably throws a wrench into the accepted narrative of the Ukraine conflict. While france has certainly positioned itself as a key player in seeking resolution, this pursuit of dialogue, if true, raises significant questions.
**Archyde:** Can you elaborate?
**Expert:** The most pressing question is: What is France hoping too achieve by excluding Ukraine from these discussions? Is it a desperate attempt to find common ground wiht Russia, bypassing the very nation at the heart of the conflict? Or is it a more calculated strategy, aiming to gain leverage before bringing Ukraine back to the table?
**Archyde:** Lavrov hinted at skepticism regarding the sincerity of these French proposals, suggesting they might be undermined by the West’s very principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” how do you interpret his response?
**Expert:** Lavrov’s comments certainly inject a dose of cynicism. It’s not entirely surprising given the mistrust that permeates this conflict. Whether his skepticism stems from genuine doubt or a tactical maneuver to delegitimize any french initiative is open to interpretation.
**Archyde:** France has gone further, proposing a European peacekeeping force deployment in Ukraine. Does this proposal align with their alleged back-channel diplomacy,or does it present a contradicting approach?
**Expert:** On the surface,the two seem incongruous.
A peacekeeping force implies a commitment to ukrainian sovereignty, while back-channel talks without Kiev’s involvement raise questions about respect for Ukrainian agency. It’s a possibly delicate balancing act for France.
**Archyde:** This news has undoubtedly sparked a fervent debate. Do you think France is justified in pursuing this alleged initiative? And what are the potential consequences for both Ukraine and the broader international community?
We want to hear from you. Do you believe France’s approach – if true – is a valid tactic for peace, or does it dangerously undermine Ukrainian sovereignty? Share your thoughts in the comments below.[[1](https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/russia-publishes-ukraine-related-diplomatic-correspondence-with-france-germany/)]
## Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy: France seeks Ukraine Dialog without Kiev
**[Intro Music]**
**Archyde News Host:** Welcome back to Archyde. Today, we delve into the intriguing world of international diplomacy surrounding the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Russia recently revealed France’s discreet attempts to engage in back-channel dialogue regarding the conflict, notably excluding Ukraine from the conversation.
Joining us today is Dr. Anya Petrova, a renowned expert in European diplomacy adn international relations from the University of Oxford, to shed light on the motivations and potential ramifications of this unusual development. Dr. Petrova, thank you for joining us.
**Dr.petrova:** It’s a pleasure to be hear.
**Archyde News Host:** Let’s begin by addressing the elephant in the room – France seeking a dialogue about Ukraine *without* Ukraine. This seems to directly contradict the West’s mantra of ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.’ What could possibly motivate such an unconventional approach?
**Dr.Petrova:** It’s certainly an unconventional move, and one that raises numerous questions. France has long been a player on the international stage,and its desire to contribute to a resolution of the ukrainian crisis is understandable. However, excluding Ukraine from these discussions seems counterproductive and perhaps undermines the vrey principle of Ukrainian sovereignty that France itself claims to support.
**Archyde News Host:** Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed skepticism towards the genuineness of these French proposals, hinting at potential ulterior motives. Do you think these concerns are valid?
**Dr. Petrova:** It’s arduous to definitively say what motivates France’s actions without more data. It’s possible they are seeking to explore option avenues for peace, believing that direct communication with Russia might be more effective at this stage. However, doing so while sidelining the Ukrainian government could be seen as legitimizing Russia’s aggression and undermining Western unity.
**Archyde News Host:** This revelation comes on the heels of France’s earlier proposal for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a suggestion met with mixed reactions. could this back-channel dialogue be seen as a Plan B, exploring alternative solutions after the peacekeeping proposal gained little traction?
**Dr. Petrova:** That’s a possibility. France might be testing different strategies to find a path towards peace. However, bypassing Ukraine in these negotiations is a risky move that could further complicate an already delicate situation.
**Archyde News Host:** What are the potential downsides of France pursuing this back-channel approach?
**Dr. Petrova:** Firstly, it risks weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position by excluding them from critical conversations about their own future.Secondly, it could damage already strained relations between France and its Western allies, who have emphasized the importance of Ukrainian inclusion in any peace process.it could embolden Russia and incentivize them to continue their aggression, believing they can dictate the terms of any potential settlement.
**archyde News Host:** Dr. Petrova, thank you for providing such insightful analysis on this complex and evolving situation.
**[Outro Music]**
Behind-the-Scenes diplomacy: France Seeks Ukraine Dialog Without Kiev
Russia has revealed that France has been discreetly reaching out, proposing a back-channel dialogue on the Ukraine crisis, notably excluding Kiev from the conversation. This intriguing development was disclosed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to Lavrov, these French proposals suggest discussions about the Ukrainian situation without the Ukrainian government’s direct involvement. This revelation, reported by TASS, raises questions about the motivations and potential outcomes of such an approach. While acknowledging France’s desire to be an active player on the world stage,including in resolving the Ukrainian crisis,Lavrov expressed skepticism about the genuineness of these initiatives and their likelihood of success. He also pointed out that these French proposals seem to contradict the West’s oft-repeated principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” This revelation follows France’s earlier suggestion to create a coalition of European countries for the permanent deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, possibly involving as many as 75 to 90 thousand soldiers. Meanwhile, Russia has reiterated its willingness to negotiate on the Ukrainian crisis, emphasizing the need to address the root causes and take into account its demands.## Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy: Is France Sidestepping Kiev in Ukraine Talks?
**Archyde:** Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statements have ignited a firestorm of discussion. He claims France is proposing back-channel dialog on the Ukraine crisis, notably *without* Ukraine’s participation. what are your thoughts on this alleged move by France and it’s potential ramifications?
**Expert:** Lavrov’s revelation undeniably throws a wrench into the accepted narrative of the Ukraine conflict. While france has certainly positioned itself as a key player in seeking resolution, this pursuit of dialogue, if true, raises significant questions.
**Archyde:** Can you elaborate?
**Expert:** The most pressing question is: What is France hoping too achieve by excluding Ukraine from these discussions? Is it a desperate attempt to find common ground wiht Russia, bypassing the very nation at the heart of the conflict? Or is it a more calculated strategy, aiming to gain leverage before bringing Ukraine back to the table?
**Archyde:** Lavrov hinted at skepticism regarding the sincerity of these French proposals, suggesting they might be undermined by the West’s very principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” how do you interpret his response?
**Expert:** Lavrov’s comments certainly inject a dose of cynicism. It’s not entirely surprising given the mistrust that permeates this conflict. Whether his skepticism stems from genuine doubt or a tactical maneuver to delegitimize any french initiative is open to interpretation.
**Archyde:** France has gone further, proposing a European peacekeeping force deployment in Ukraine. Does this proposal align with their alleged back-channel diplomacy,or does it present a contradicting approach?
**Expert:** On the surface,the two seem incongruous.
A peacekeeping force implies a commitment to ukrainian sovereignty, while back-channel talks without Kiev’s involvement raise questions about respect for Ukrainian agency. It’s a possibly delicate balancing act for France.
**Archyde:** This news has undoubtedly sparked a fervent debate. Do you think France is justified in pursuing this alleged initiative? And what are the potential consequences for both Ukraine and the broader international community?
We want to hear from you. Do you believe France’s approach – if true – is a valid tactic for peace, or does it dangerously undermine Ukrainian sovereignty? Share your thoughts in the comments below.[[1](https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/russia-publishes-ukraine-related-diplomatic-correspondence-with-france-germany/)]
## Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy: France seeks Ukraine Dialog without Kiev
**[Intro Music]**
**Archyde News Host:** Welcome back to Archyde. Today, we delve into the intriguing world of international diplomacy surrounding the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Russia recently revealed France’s discreet attempts to engage in back-channel dialogue regarding the conflict, notably excluding Ukraine from the conversation.
Joining us today is Dr. Anya Petrova, a renowned expert in European diplomacy adn international relations from the University of Oxford, to shed light on the motivations and potential ramifications of this unusual development. Dr. Petrova, thank you for joining us.
**Dr.petrova:** It’s a pleasure to be hear.
**Archyde News Host:** Let’s begin by addressing the elephant in the room – France seeking a dialogue about Ukraine *without* Ukraine. This seems to directly contradict the West’s mantra of ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.’ What could possibly motivate such an unconventional approach?
**Dr.Petrova:** It’s certainly an unconventional move, and one that raises numerous questions. France has long been a player on the international stage,and its desire to contribute to a resolution of the ukrainian crisis is understandable. However, excluding Ukraine from these discussions seems counterproductive and perhaps undermines the vrey principle of Ukrainian sovereignty that France itself claims to support.
**Archyde News Host:** Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed skepticism towards the genuineness of these French proposals, hinting at potential ulterior motives. Do you think these concerns are valid?
**Dr. Petrova:** It’s arduous to definitively say what motivates France’s actions without more data. It’s possible they are seeking to explore option avenues for peace, believing that direct communication with Russia might be more effective at this stage. However, doing so while sidelining the Ukrainian government could be seen as legitimizing Russia’s aggression and undermining Western unity.
**Archyde News Host:** This revelation comes on the heels of France’s earlier proposal for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a suggestion met with mixed reactions. could this back-channel dialogue be seen as a Plan B, exploring alternative solutions after the peacekeeping proposal gained little traction?
**Dr. Petrova:** That’s a possibility. France might be testing different strategies to find a path towards peace. However, bypassing Ukraine in these negotiations is a risky move that could further complicate an already delicate situation.
**Archyde News Host:** What are the potential downsides of France pursuing this back-channel approach?
**Dr. Petrova:** Firstly, it risks weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position by excluding them from critical conversations about their own future.Secondly, it could damage already strained relations between France and its Western allies, who have emphasized the importance of Ukrainian inclusion in any peace process.it could embolden Russia and incentivize them to continue their aggression, believing they can dictate the terms of any potential settlement.
**archyde News Host:** Dr. Petrova, thank you for providing such insightful analysis on this complex and evolving situation.
**[Outro Music]**
