Macron and Medvedev are not that... eccentric
They are the first pair venturing on the dance floor. The rest of the crowd is still shy. It is not clear how the party will go on from here. It may end in happy couples leaving discreetly or in a protracted general brawl between tired drunkards.
A threshold has been passed though.
The Collective West falsely believes it still matters much more than actually is.
Russia is still an odd duck on the international stage, in a world of its own, who just begins to understand that it is not so important to fit in and accommodate others.
Nevertheless, Russia has to draw a line between self sufficient pursuit of happiness (including the spiritual dimension America forgot) and old imperial pangs which are still visiting the consciousness of its political elites (and not only).
Macron was pushed in as the consummate globalist he is, but he was also chosen, symbolically, as the leader of a country once known for its diplomacy and the president-king of the first country in EU, now that Germany committed seppuku under the most inept political leadership in its history.
Americans, globalists or not, are aware that they must cultivate an option out of the Ukrainian maze. Macron is breaking ice and might very well break himself, nobody cares, this is what he was made for.
Medvedev the Troll is the Russian response. He will not be the next president of Russia, he is no tweeting Trump, he just does what he is told, dutifully, as he did as surrogate president when Putin had to twist the constitution and place him as nominal president. Medvedev is replaceable too, very much like Macron.
Both are allowed to break some rules and initiate the new ‘debate’ topic. The influencing machine will take it from there.
Ukraine will be carved. Neither side knows on what lines yet and this leaves room for bluffs, posturing and blunders. And blood to be spilled.