How Great Britain won the fight for Selenskyj while Macron hesitated

Wolodymyr Selenskyj decided to visit Britain in front of France, after Paris Kiev's offers to meet Emmanuel Macron, was reported.

French officials were forced to keep the face to arrange a stopover in Paris on Wednesday evening before the Ukrainian president left to Brussels on Thursday morning.

Mr. Selenskyj made Great Britain his second abroad and first European visit since Russia's invasion in Ukraine.

But the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Zelensky first turned to Mr. Macron and planned to go to Paris first, followed by London and finally Brussels, where he would take part in an EU summit on Thursday.

Despite these conversations, "no special invitation from President Emmanuel Macron ever made it to Mr. Selenskyj," said the WSJ, which enabled Britain to dive up and secure the historical visit.

When the news of Mr. Zelensky's secret visit to Great Britain, the Elysee was forced to answer questions from journalists about the diplomatic coup d'état.

The team of Mr. Macron made a brave face and pointed out that Mr. Macron and Mr. Zelensky only spoke to each other last week.

France tries to save Europe's blushing

On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian officials said there were no plans to visit Paris in front of Brussels.

But behind the scenes, French officials worked hard to save European blows. Mr. Macron and his wife have canceled plans to spend Thursday evening in the theater.

Paris contacted Berlin to see whether Olaf Scholz could take part in the hastily arranged dinner in the presidential palace, reported the WSJ.

The Federal Chancellor had just gave a speech to the German Bundestag in which he had sworn not to be drawn into a “bidding war” who could send most of the weapons to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian head of state had asked British fighter jets in London in a historical and much -noticed speech in the Westminster Hall.

He made the same application in Paris and will renew his plea for aircraft in front of the EU leadership tips in Brussels on Thursday.

Mr. Scholz, who excluded the sending of Jets, said he would rush to France to shake his hand.

Compared to the pomp and circumstance in London, the events in Paris looked a little more rushed and improvised. Mr. Zelensky arrived at Orly Airport at 10 p.m.

A honorary grace in the invalides had to be canceled because the Ukrainian president came from London too late, where he met King Charles and spoke in front of the parliament.

Mr. Zelensky has not given any of his rousing speeches in Paris. Instead, there was a press conference in the Salle des Fêtes des Elysée before dinner.

At the press conference between the three leaders, there was more than just a touch of embarrassment.

Mr. Zelensky realized that Mr. Scholz was standing in front of the wrong flag and pointed out that he was standing in front of the colors of Ukraine. The French President had to ask the two men to exchange places and platforms.

There were also ruffled feathers in the rest of Europe. Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said on Thursday that the Parisian stopover in front of the Brussels summit was "inappropriate".

Europe should have remained united and Mr. Zelensky should have greeted as a block of 27, she said without trying to conquer the spotlight for himself.

French officials now insist on it, "there were weeks of discussions about a visit".

They emphasize that Mr. Macron has repeatedly invited Mr. Selenskyj to Paris and that there is no competition with Great Britain for the attention of the Ukrainian president. A visit to the flag ship in London makes sense, they say, because Brexit-Britain will not be there at the EU summit.

But it is not the first time that Mr. Macron and Mr. Scholz were caught when jumping over Ukraine or were suspended that they would not support Ukraine until the attack.

Great Britain and the USA, which Selenskyj had selected for his first visit, predicted Russia's invasion in February, but Paris and Berlin were skeptical.

Great Britain's certification for the visit were always strong. The Ukrainians are grateful for the fast British arms deliveries and the leadership of Great Britain to push the West more to send more.

in Paris, Mr. Macron awarded Mr. Zelensky the Legion of Honor before the two men flew to Brussels together for the summit and for a new round of intensive diplomacy.

The two men hugged in an opulent space after Mr. Macron had handed over to Mr. Zelensky, dressed in his trademark Khaki, France's highest award.

"I think it's too much for me, and that's why I (the decoration) of course speak for all of our people, the Ukrainians, for our society. And it is a great honor to be here," said Mr. Selenskyj.

Has Mr. Macron made Mr. Zelensky's lack of invitation well again? Or try to make it look like the trip had been planned all the time?