This Newsletter is the first published in 2026 and the 47th since the beginning of the conflict. This year may be one of a fiercely negotiated peace for several months; we dedicate it to numbers, like so many "rounds" of a boxing match to win. January, first month of the year. What are the symbolic meanings of the number 1? In Latin, “primus” means “the first”. The term appears in several Latin expressions, often associated with the figure of authority. Semper primus means “always first” in Russia, an ideal that can be full of threats when one always wants to be the first, the leader, the reference, against others. Primus sine paribus in Ukraine, means "the first without parallel", distinguishing itself through originality and innovation, opening new paths and building a sustainable future together with others. Primus inter pares in Europe, the idea of an implicit reference even if the European Union has lost some of its prestige. It now has two 'challengers'. One is more 'friendly' - the United States which remains an allied but unstable country. The other is openly hostile – Russia, which attacked Ukraine in 2014 (annexation of Crimea) by symbolically declaring war on the Western world at the 2007 Munich conference. The European Union and the Western democracies, then united, were astonished by so much acrimony. Everything is open in this first month of the year 2026 - maybe not any more the first, but not the last either
1- Number one
2-Semper primus in Russia
3-Primus sine paribus in Ukraine
4-Primus inter pares in Europe