Kiev should undertake a impartial stance between Russia and the West, Nicolas Sarkozy has mentioned
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned that Ukrainian membership of NATO and the EU “wouldn’t promote peace” and can be perceived as a “provocation” by Russia.
Talking to French information station BFMTV on Wednesday, Sarkozy argued it’s in Kiev’s greatest pursuits to stay “impartial” relating to Western blocs. The previous chief additionally insisted that diplomacy with Moscow stays probably the most prudent choice for Ukraine to finish the present battle.
“Bringing Ukraine into NATO wouldn’t promote peace,” mentioned Sarkozy, who served as French president between 2007 and 2012.
NATO leaders declared at a summit in Lithuania in July that the bloc would solely invite Ukraine to turn into a member “when allies agree and circumstances are met.” NATO had already denied Kiev’s requires a “fast-track” to full membership in September of 2022.
Moscow has often expressed its opposition to NATO’s eastward growth. President Vladimir Putin cited the bloc’s involvement in Ukraine as among the many key causes when Moscow started its navy operation in opposition to Kiev final 12 months.
Ukraine has additionally pursued EU membership and was granted formal candidate standing in 2022. In June, sources throughout the bloc instructed Reuters that Kiev at present meets two of the seven circumstances required to be thought of for full membership.
Fairly than chasing nearer ties with the West, Sarkozy instructed BFMTV there are “two options” accessible to Ukraine and its allies to convey an finish to the hostilities. The primary, he claimed, is the “annihilation” of Russia – earlier than explaining that that is unrealistic as a result of “we aren’t going to wipe out the second nuclear energy on the earth, or the world dangers falling into complete battle.”
In line with Sarkozy, a extra achievable state of affairs is “diplomatic dialogue.” The previous president acknowledged that his expertise had given him a transparent view of what will be achieved over the negotiating desk. “They inform me Putin has modified and [that] we can not have discussions with him,” Sarkozy mentioned. “Those that say which can be usually those that have by no means met him.”
Sarkozy reiterated to BFMTV his stance that Ukraine ought to pursue agency neutrality in its relationships with Russia and the West, arguing: “Once you wave the muleta beneath the bull’s nostril, you shouldn’t be shocked if he assaults.”
Sarkozy’s feedback observe the backlash he obtained for an interview with French publication Le Figaro final month, through which he mentioned Kiev ought to disregard becoming a member of NATO or the EU in favor of “a world settlement offering it with extraordinarily robust safety assurances to guard it in opposition to any danger.”
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