NEW YORK (Dagbladet): Sarkozy’s publisher on Saturday accelerated the publication of volume two of the ex-president’s autobiography “Le Temps des Combats” after his comments about Russia and Ukraine have triggered strong reactions.
Sarkozy is accused of defending Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He also criticizes the EU and the US for their support for Ukraine, reports The Observer.
Doomed: The end of a dream
Sarkozy stepped down as president in 2012 but is still considered a key back player in French politics and particularly within the conservative party.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the opening of Mosvka’s conference on international security, August 15, 2023. Video: AP Show more
New autobiography
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro last week, Sarkozy defended Putin and advocated that Ukraine must accept a Russian occupation of Crimea and other territories. He also believed that Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO or the EU in order to prevent Russia from feeling surrounded by “hostile neighbours”.
The Observer, which has gained access to the new autobiography, writes that the ex-president goes even further in the book.
– It is said that we are fighting a war against Russia without fighting it. We are obviously not engaged on the ground, but we supply weapons to one of the belligerents. Russia will remain our neighbor whether we like it or not. We must find a way to re-establish the neighborhood or at least soften the relationship, writes Sarkozy and continues:
– I live in hell, says ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy
– Russia must renounce all military actions against its neighbours. Ukraine must commit to remaining neutral. At the same time, NATO can confirm its willingness to respect and take into account Russia’s historical fear of being surrounded by unfriendly neighbours.
Sarkozy also describes the idea of returning the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine as “illusory”.
The ex-president has also long boasted of his friendship with Putin.
– Shameful
Not surprisingly, his statements cause strong reactions.
One of Sarkozy’s former intelligence advisers, Jérome Poirot, describes his comments as “disgraceful” and an attempt to rewrite history.
Suddenly gone: – Worried
– He has no perspective on what has happened or on what he himself did, says Poirot to the French TV channel LCI, according to France24.
He describes how Sarkozy was one of the most important voices against allowing Georgia and Ukraine to become NATO members in 2008, although this did not prevent Putin from invading both countries.
– What were Sarkozy’s red lines? What was his vision for France’s security? Just giving Vladimir Putin whatever he wants? says Poirot.
During Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea, large portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin were hung. Video: Reuters. Reporter: Vegard Krüger / Dagbladet TV. view more
– Corrupt as hell
The former president of Estonia, Toomas Ilves, is far from diplomatic after the statements from Sarkozy.
– After his own “peace plan” for Georgia in 2008, which he himself lowered one month later in order to restore cooperation between the EU and Russia, he is France’s most lying president in foreign policy in the post-war period. In relations with Russia, he is corrupt as hell. Why take this clown seriously? Ilves signs on Xformerly known as Twitter.
– Obviously scared
Professor of history and Russia expert Cécile Vaissié reacts.
– It is not up to Sarkozy, or you or me to decide what Ukraine will become, says Vaissié, according to The Observer.
Court cases
She explains how she believes Sarkozy’s support for Russia is in line with the French perspective on a “special relationship” between Moscow and Paris, which arose in the late 1960s under then-President Charles de Gaulle.
Since Sarkozy left the Elysée Palace in 2012, he has been accused of a number of offences.
He himself denies having done anything wrong, and is currently appealing two sentences of 12 months in prison for illegal election campaign financing and for attempting to bribe a judge.
He must also soon appear in court accused of receiving illegal campaign support from the now-deceased Libyan dictator Muammar Khadafi.
2023-08-20 02:21:20
#Strong #reactions #clown
