Sarkozy on Russia: 'We need them and they need us'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Le Figaro
17 Aug 2023 00:18
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy says Europe should "clarify its strategy" and seek a settlement with Russia rather than pursuing its "strange idea" of funding a war.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (AFP)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy considered that "diplomacy, discussions and talks" are "the only ways" to end the Ukraine war, French media reported.

In an interview for Le Figaro published on Wednesday, Sarkozy pointed out that Europe should "clarify its strategy" and seek a settlement with Russia rather than pursuing its "strange idea" of funding a war without conducting one.

"Without compromise, nothing will be possible and we run the risk that the situation will degenerate at any moment. This powder keg could have frightful consequences," the former French President was quoted as saying.

He called Vladimir Putin's decision to launch a special military operation in Ukraine "serious" and "a failure" but asserted that Russia was "Europe's neighbor".

Despite Europe's common history of disagreements with Russia, Sarkozy said, "We need them and they need us."

Sarkozy dissociated himself from French President Emmanuel Macron's position on the Ukraine war, stating that while Macron's original "intuition was right," he failed to follow through, owing in part to "pressure from eastern Europeans."

It is noteworthy that during the early weeks of the war, Macron made extensive phone discussions with the Russian President to persuade him to end it. However, he has recently taken a tougher stance toward Russia, pledging to back Ukraine till the end.

Eastern European politicians, in particular, slammed Macron's outreach to Moscow. Last May, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki rebuked the French President's choice to maintain contact with his Russian counterpart, comparing his efforts to negotiating with Hitler.

Sarkozy criticized Ukraine's EU membership quest, comparing it to Turkey's failed attempt, saying, "We are selling fallacious promises that will not be held."

Elsewhere, he questioned if Ukraine should attempt to re-control Crimea.

It is noteworthy that on August 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media demonstrating a long-range Scalp missile that Macron promised Kiev last month.

In mid-July, Macron announced that his government had decided to join the United Kingdom in providing Scalp missiles to Ukraine.