Gallon: Ukraine EU Accession a Gift to Putin

Jérémie Gallon has expressed significant concerns regarding the trajectory of the peace negotiations for Ukraine. In a recent statement, he acknowledged the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the French President to secure vital security guarantees for Ukraine from the Americans and the broader European community. However, Gallon sharply criticized the mechanism proposed for achieving this peace, specifically the plan involving Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

According to Gallon, such a move would be counterproductive. He argues that admitting Ukraine into the European Union would not result in the desired stability but would instead cause profound destabilization across the continent. This critique positions the US-proposed plan not as a solution, but as a potential geopolitical liability that could undermine European security architecture.

The debate surrounding the future of Ukraine and its relationship with Western institutions has taken a new turn with comments from Jérémie Gallon. The core of his argument rests on the distinction between providing security support and granting full institutional membership. While he does not oppose the concept of security guarantees—viewing them as a necessary outcome of the French President's diplomatic maneuvering—he views the proposed EU accession as a dangerous overreach.

The specific plan referenced by Gallon is attributed to the Americans. This peace proposal links the cessation of hostilities directly to Ukraine's integration into the European bloc. Gallon suggests that this linkage is a strategic misstep. By forcing the issue of EU membership as part of a peace deal, the plan creates a scenario that Gallon describes as a "cadeau de l'Occident à Vladimir Poutine"—a gift from the West to Vladimir Putin.

Gallon's warning focuses heavily on the consequences of destabilization. The argument posits that the European Union is not currently structured to absorb a nation in Ukraine's position without significant internal and external friction. The rapid integration of a country currently engaged in a major conflict and facing immense reconstruction challenges could strain the EU's economic and political resources to a breaking point.

The potential for destabilization implies a threat to the cohesion of the Occident (the West). If the EU were to destabilize due to the accession of Ukraine, the collective power of Western nations could be diminished. This outcome would theoretically weaken the Western position in global geopolitics, thereby inadvertently strengthening the hand of adversaries like Vladimir Poutine.

The central tension in Gallon's analysis is the separation of security guarantees from EU membership. The French President is credited with working to 'arracher' (wrest or snatch) guarantees from the US and Europe. This suggests a tough negotiation process aimed at ensuring Ukraine's safety.

However, the inclusion of EU accession in the American plan complicates these negotiations. Gallon implies that the West is offering too much, too soon. The 'gift' of EU membership is seen as an unnecessary concession that carries heavy risks for the Union européenne. The argument suggests that security can be maintained without the full political and economic integration that membership requires.

Jérémie Gallon's intervention serves as a cautionary note against rushing into structural changes in the European geopolitical landscape. By framing the US peace plan's proposal as a gift to Vladimir Poutine, Gallon challenges the prevailing wisdom that expanding the European Union is always a stabilizing force.

Ultimately, the critique highlights the complexity of the current diplomatic environment. As Western leaders grapple with how to end the conflict in Ukraine, Gallon's perspective suggests that the method chosen—specifically the terms of EU accession—could have unintended and damaging consequences for the stability of Europe itself.