What does the Gallic rooster weigh in comparison with the Russian bear?

Le Figaro

 By venturing into a solitary face-to-face with Vladimir Putin yesterday, Emmanuel Macron tempted the devil, believes the right-wing daily.

The French president does not have many options in his game or great chances of success in a standoff that is beyond him.

At least he could calculate that at a time when Washington is crying about the 'imminent' invasion of Ukraine, he would not be blamed for trying something.

It will already be taken electorally…

trying to initiate 'a new process' rather than dwelling on the 'differences' and 'misunderstandings' behind the deep crisis between Moscow and the Westerners.

This is the narrow path chosen by Emmanuel Macron, yesterday, which is based less on really new proposals than on the belief of the French president in the strength of his voluntarism.

This path was (therefore) cleared during this long interview with Vladimir Putin – more than five hours – which Emmanuel Macron sees as the starting point of a sequence that should last several weeks.

The task will be difficult,

Le Monde

and Vladimir Putin's first words at a press conference reminded us of this.

The Russian president, who had greeted his guest with a certain warmth, once again unfolded the multiple objects of Russian resentment, starting with the latest: the refusal of NATO and the United States to access the ' security proposals' presented by Moscow.

'Our concerns have been neglected for thirty years

who also attacked the 'Russophobia' of the Baltic States, the betrayal of the 'Maidan coup' in Ukraine, or even the interventions of the Alliance in Afghanistan, Libya or Iraq.

He nevertheless welcomed the visit of Emmanuel Macron, believing that “some of his ideas can serve as a basis for common progress”, and promised, later, to be ready for “compromises”. 

in this media tussle where every detail is important, let's hope that the wishes for 'de-escalation' do not remain pious

Liberation.

The more diplomatic activity there is, the less chance we have of rushing into war. 

 the problem is that in this fog of war, it only takes a trifle, a misunderstanding, a mistranslated word, a misinterpreted troop movement for an armed conflict to break out.

It is therefore a very dangerous game that is taking place before our eyes.

And we hope that the expressions 'de-escalation', 'building real security', 'finding a settlement to the crisis' used last night by both sides are not just meaningless diplomatic words. 

Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace

the French head of state wants to believe that his relationship with Vladimir Poutine, as wobbly and chaotic as it may be, can allow him to reduce the pressure a little.

He does not have much to lose: Europe was excluded from the negotiations by Putin himself before they started and the simple fact of bringing it back into the game is already a (small) success to be put in perspective. its active.

And then not trying anything would have fueled a passive trial with the worst effect when France has just taken over the presidency of the Union. 

Parisien

Anne Hidalgo: will she hold out?

 The Mayor of Paris is not taking off in the polls,

Le Parisien: 3% according to Ipsos.

Defections are announced.

What weigh down the morale of the PS which risks bankruptcy.

(…) How far can she hold out?

Those close to Anne Hidalgo want to believe that the polls for the presidential election are wrong.

(…) Still due to a lack of fuel, the candidate and her team are working to put the whole socialist machine in working order.

From the mayor of Lille to Bernard Cazeneuve, the former Prime Minister, appointed president of the candidate's national support committee on Saturday, most of the former tenors of the PS are now at his side.

Even François Hollande who, two weeks ago, had cast doubt on a possible candidacy, seems to have better intentions.