In the Ukrainian question, Europe is marginal

 Within the Ukrainian situation, the European Union is not playing a leading role due to the exclusion of the talks that Putin regularly holds with the US and the Atlantic Alliance. This situation of marginalization is understandable if we consider Putin's reasons, who intentionally does not want other protagonists close to the United States at the negotiating table and, at the same time, continues in his work of dividing Western allies, but the lack of involvement on the part of Washington, which was to require Brussels to attend the negotiations, appears very serious. On the question, hypotheses can be made, which if true could lead to a difficult situation between the two parties. First of all, it is singular that neither the USA nor the Atlantic Alliance felt the need for a European presence: one cannot but think of the resentment of both parties for the desire to create an armed force directly constituted by the European Union, which was interpreted overseas as an alternative to the Atlantic Alliance and therefore to American influence, both from a strategic, political and also economic point of view, given the great game of military orders that is at stake; however, Germany is still trying to get back into the diplomatic game, taking advantage of the US Secretary of State's stopover and also involving France and the United Kingdom. Berlin, with this maneuver, however, plays a single game, unhooked by a desirable European action. Certainly recognizing that the central question is the maintenance of order and peace is an essential question for Europe, it seems a foregone conclusion, which does nothing but renew the marginality of the Union. Although Europe aspires to play an important role, the German strategy appeared to be a cross between an amateurish attempt and a risky maneuver. France would have the intention of having the Union take its own diplomatic action towards Moscow, but the fear is that the United States does not like this alternative initiative and that the lack of European bargaining strength vis-a-vis Russia, determines an initiative with few practical consequences but with very negative political repercussions. On the other hand, the intentions towards Russia, in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, are very different: if Washington even comes to favor a military response, even if preceded by arms supplies to Kiev and heavy economic sanctions, the Europe focuses exclusively on dialogue, because it is too involved in any sanctions against Moscow due to economic ties and the dependence on energy supplies arriving from the Russian country. Europe finds itself in a stalemate due to the chronic lack of a foreign and economic policy, especially insufficient on the issue of energy supplies, which affect every possible move. The United States itself is moving with the utmost caution, an attitude that could be mistaken for weakness by Putin, who continues to approach the confrontation in a worrying way. Russia has been left too much freedom of maneuver, claiming its area of ​​influence on the territories that belonged to the former Soviet empire may be understandable, but it is not tolerable to force states and peoples who do not like this solution; Meanwhile, Putin's ultimate goal is not to have democratic states on its borders to avoid dangerous contagions with the Russian population, already very dissatisfied with the state of affairs, this is the primary objective, the second, the official one, of refusing the presence of the Atlantic Alliance on its borders may have strategic justifications that do not reconcile with the self-determination of sovereign nations. This alone would be enough to overcome European perplexities of an economic nature: the Russian advance, that yes, at the borders of the Union is a factor of dangerous destabilization of the European order, especially with states within the Union where feelings are blowing undemocratic, which Brussels should no longer tolerate. Despite all legitimate doubts, Europe should strongly support the United States to contain Putin and precisely the lack of this conviction determines his marginality, which cannot be overcome as long as these too timid and moderate positions against prevarication are maintained. of democracy.