The EU splits on dialogue with Putin. Poland and the Baltics: “You only feel the force”

BERLIN – As often happens, diplomatic language is allusive, almost euphemistic. And the terms with which the European Sherpas have discussed in recent days the possibility of a review of relations with Vladimir Putin seem innocuous: “selective engagement”. The pop translation could be “carrot and stick”. But the impulse of Angela Merkel, supported by Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi, to restart a channel of dialogue with Putin with an EU-Russia summit, reserving the possibility of hitting hard, if necessary, has split Europe even before it began the summit in Brussels.