PUTIN MEETS MACRON: SYMBOLISM OF THE LONG TABLE NOT LOST ON THE WORLD.

ICHEOKU says it is an indication that the relationship between the West and Russia has so deteriorated now that it has created a chasm between the two sides, so wide and so deep, that the Grand Canyon has nothing on it. The extremely long table, with the two leaders perched at opposite ends of it, was not an accident. It was by design, a deliberate telegraphing of a message that the current impasse between the West and Russia over Ukraine will require more than just mere talks and threats of economic sanctions to eventually resolve. There was also no French flag displayed behind Putin on the podium during their press briefings. As things stand now, it looks like only one solution is feasible, a shooting war between NATO and Russia to finally determine the long lingering question, which side is militarily superior. 

President Vladimir Putin by the shoddy treatment which he meted out to visiting President Emmanuel Macron showed that he has no respect for both the French President and whatever he represents, including NATO and the West. The Russian strongman displayed, in no unmistakable terms, that he has no love lost for the West, a show of a big disdain, and that he is prepared to now meet the West fire for fire over the Ukraine dispute. He was unapologetic, cocky and very obtuse in his demands; and he showed no sign that he will ever back down nor soften his stand on the impasse over Ukraine.

In fact, he actually threatened NATO and the West, saying no more games and asking if they really want to fight with Russia? He also inferred that all of Russians weapons could be used if war erupts, and that even a nuclear strike is not off his war table. His language also suggests that in the event of Russia suffering great casualties because of western supplied weapons to Ukraine that he might exercise a nuclear first strike, including inside any of the NATO countries. He was adamant and resolute, and sought to intimidate President Macron, NATO and the West and to force them to change course and allow him to forcefully take over Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has apparently lost all sense of reason and he is not rational, at least not anymore and not in the matter of Ukraine's sovereignty or its right to chart an independent foreign policy direction. He kept hammering on NATO expanding East but chose to forget that NATO was winning the hearts and minds of those Eastern European countries and never forced any of them to join NATO or desire to join NATO. President Putin should have done some self examination, a sort of soul searching, to see what he is doing wrong that is driving all those former Socialists Soviet countries to seek refuge in NATO. 

The Russian Lord of the Kremlin Manor also failed to remember that Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons stockpile following an agreement between America and Russia that Russia will never intimidate or show hostilities to it. So, why is President Vladimir Putin not being reminded of this Russia's undertaking to Ukraine, especially by those Western leaders such as President Emmanuel Macron who visit Moscow and frequently hold telephone negotiations with him. What President Putin is doing to both Ukraine and NATO and the West would pass for what Latin calls the fallacy of "argumentum ad baculum", either accept his demand or there will be war and violence.

With just a cavalier "Nice to see you, dear Emmanuel", President Vladimir Putin plunged into his litany of demands on Ukraine and the West. He did not even and possibly refused to shake hands with the visiting French President and made sure that they sat on the opposite ends of the long table. President Putin also referred to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky as "my beauty", a term used often to dismissively refer to a woman or a feminine girly man, while spelling out demands which he insisted the Ukraine President must comply with, whether he likes it or not. In his words, Putin said, "Like it or don't like it, it's your duty, my beauty." His treatment of both leaders was extremely disrespectful, but it shows that his mind is made up and he doesn't care any more. 

The only question now remaining is whether NATO and the West will firm up in their resolve and confront Putin and his Russian army head-on. As for Putin, he has been ready since yesterday and only biding his time to see if NATO will provide him the reason to strike immediately; otherwise he will strike when he finally gets a firm assurances from Beijing that China will provide Russia with a stop gap cushion to any imposed Western sanctions following his invasion of Ukraine. Backing down for Putin now is no longer an option and NATO must also be similarly resolved to meet the challenge and it will be a shame if the organization allows just one man to dribble it around and into submission. The mother of all wars beckons, will it be fought now?