The war in Ukraine continues to reshape the global geopolitical landscape, and a growing concern among Western observers is the potential for a shift in the relationship between the United States and Russia. Former French Ambassador to Moscow, Pierre Lévy, who served in the role from 2020 to 2024, warns of a concerning convergence between Washington and Moscow, driven by the evolving political dynamics within the United States. This potential realignment, as Lévy details in his new book Au cœur de la Russie en guerre (“At the Heart of Wartime Russia”), could have profound implications for the future of Ukraine and the broader transatlantic alliance.
Lévy’s observations, shared ahead of his participation in the La Nuit de l’Europe conference in Strasbourg, stem from witnessing firsthand the escalating tensions leading up to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He describes a “descent into the abyss” as he observed Vladimir Putin’s increasingly assertive foreign policy and the internal shifts within Russia that paved the way for the conflict. Now, he suggests, a new dynamic is emerging, one where a desire for a quick resolution to the war in Ukraine, particularly within certain factions of the US government, could lead to concessions that undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A Shift at the United Nations
The potential for this shift was recently highlighted at the United Nations, where a vote on a resolution regarding the war in Ukraine revealed diverging approaches. Lévy points to the contrast between the March 2, 2022, resolution, which saw 141 countries condemning Russian aggression – with only Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, and Syria voting against – and the resolutions proposed in 2025. The original resolution called for respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.
In 2025, Lévy explains, two resolutions were put forward. One, backed by European nations, continued to support Ukraine’s position. The other, however, was submitted by the United States under the administration of Donald Trump. This resolution, according to Lévy, signaled a de facto alliance with Russia, prioritizing a swift end to the conflict even if it meant abandoning condemnation of Russian aggression and failing to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This represents a significant departure from the unified front presented in the immediate aftermath of the invasion.
Putin’s Long-Held Vision and US Pragmatism
The roots of this potential convergence, according to Lévy, can be traced back to Vladimir Putin’s articulation of his worldview in 2007 at the Munich Security Conference. Putin laid out a vision that challenged the existing international order, a vision that was initially met with skepticism but was then methodically pursued, culminating in the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As reported by Le Monde, this conference served as a warning sign that was largely unheeded.
Now, Lévy suggests, a pragmatic approach within the US government, focused on resolving the conflict quickly, is aligning with Putin’s objectives. The key demands from Russia, as outlined in negotiations, center around territorial concessions – specifically, the acceptance of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – and security guarantees, including a commitment to Ukraine’s neutrality and non-alignment with NATO. These demands, while unacceptable to Ukraine and its allies, are increasingly being presented as potential compromises in the search for a resolution.
Constitutional Shifts and a Focus on Ukraine
Lévy’s analysis also extends to the internal political maneuvering within Russia that preceded the invasion. He details how Putin initiated constitutional reforms in 2020, ostensibly to ensure stability, but in reality, to allow him to remain in power and set a course toward a more assertive foreign policy, particularly concerning Ukraine. These reforms, presented with social benefits to garner public support, were a calculated move to consolidate power and pursue long-term strategic goals. Babel.ua reports on these internal shifts, highlighting the Kremlin’s long-term planning.
The implications of a US-Russia convergence are far-reaching. A negotiated settlement that accepts Russia’s territorial gains and compromises Ukraine’s sovereignty would not only be a blow to Ukraine but also a signal to other nations that aggression can be rewarded. It would also fundamentally alter the transatlantic alliance, raising questions about the reliability of US commitments to its allies. The potential for a weakening of the international rules-based order is a significant concern, as is the message it would send to other authoritarian regimes.
As the United Nations prepares to vote on a new resolution regarding Ukraine on February 24th, the world will be watching closely. The outcome of that vote will serve as a crucial indicator of the evolving geopolitical realities and the extent to which a new, and potentially troubling, alignment between the United States and Russia is taking shape. The coming weeks and months will be critical in determining the future of Ukraine and the broader international order.
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