Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts in resolving the conflict in Ukraine during an interview with Le Figaro. According to Sarkozy, Ukraine should be a neutral country and a bridge between Russia and the European Union (EU). He acknowledged the need for both Russia and the EU to work together and stated that the EU’s interests do not necessarily align with those of the United States.
Sarkozy criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, calling it a mistake. However, he also emphasized that Putin is not irrational and should be approached through diplomacy. In Sarkozy’s view, a compromise in the conflict would involve the West recognizing Crimea as part of Russia. He argued that Crimea historically belonged to Russia and that a majority of the population identifies as Russian. Sarkozy suggested that a referendum, supervised by the international community, could be organized to ratify the current state of affairs in Crimea.
The former French president also discussed the disputed territories in eastern and southern Ukraine. He stated that the resolution of these territorial questions would depend on the situation on the ground. If Ukraine is unable to regain control of these territories, Sarkozy proposed the option of holding referendums, again under international supervision, to settle the issues definitively. He emphasized the need for Ukraine to remain a bridge between Europe and Russia, rejecting the idea of forcing the country to choose between the East and the West.
Sarkozy raised concerns about the false promises being made to Ukraine regarding its potential membership in the EU and NATO. He argued that Ukraine does not currently meet the requirements for membership and that it should remain a neutral country. He suggested that strong security assurances from the West could guarantee Ukraine’s neutrality. This position aligns with Russia’s stance, as Moscow considers Ukraine’s neutrality a non-negotiable national interest.
The former French president’s comments come in the context of ongoing tensions and conflicts in Ukraine. Since the US-backed coup in 2014, Ukraine has sought NATO and EU membership, which has further escalated tensions with Russia. Sarkozy’s successor, Francois Hollande, and German ex-chancellor Angela Merkel admitted last fall that the Minsk Agreements, designed to resolve the conflict in Donbass, had been a trick aimed at buying time for Ukraine to prepare for war.
In conclusion, Sarkozy emphasized the need for diplomacy to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. He called for Ukraine to remain neutral and serve as a bridge between Russia and the EU. He highlighted the importance of recognizing Crimea as part of Russia and proposed referendums, supervised by the international community, to settle the territorial questions in eastern and southern Ukraine. Sarkozy’s views align with Russia’s position on Ukraine and challenge the promises of EU and NATO membership made to Ukraine.
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