If they condemn with one voice a “violation” of international law, some opposition leaders also criticize Emmanuel Macron’s unsuccessful mediation attempt.
The growing tension raised fears of a passage to the act. On Monday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized in a televised address the independence of the pro-Russian separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, and ordered his army to enter these republics to assume “peacekeeping functions“. Turning in the crisis between the two countries, this decision comes just a few days after the mediation attempts made by Emmanuel Macron. In the middle of the French presidential campaign, the situation was immediately commented on by the candidates. Which in turn targeted the action of the Head of State.
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“By recognizing the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, Russia is violating its commitments and undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. I condemn this decision“, first indicated on social networks Emmanuel Macron. In recent days, the president – whose declaration of candidacy is delayed by the gravity of the circumstances – had himself gone there to establish a dialogue. Ultimately without success.
“A war can always be avoided“, Thus estimated Marine Le Pen, this Tuesday on RTL. According to the candidate of the National Rally, “it is obvious that the act of escalation that President Vladimir Putin has decided to make is really regrettable, but it is not definitive.» «I still believe in diplomacy“, she added. The contender for the Élysée Palace lamented that France has “uninterested” those “last five yearsto the Minsk agreement, providing for the autonomy of the separatist regions. If she were at the head of the country, Marine Le Pen assures us that she would have tried to “bring together around a table all the actors of the conflictto arrive at a solution allowingthe withdrawal of troops from Ukraine and at the same time this autonomy which (…) is unavoidable.»
“Vladimir Putin manipulated Europe”
His adversary from the nationalist camp Éric Zemmour let it be known that he would propose to Russia and to all the European states, “as soon as (s)on election“, to negotiate “a treaty enshrining the end of NATO expansion in exchange for the resolution of territorial disputes in Eastern Europe“. At this point, the candidate for Reconquest! recognizes a violation of “Ukrainian sovereignty” and “principle of inviolability of borders“. And if he considers that a “new war on our continent must absolutely be avoided“, he opposes the sanctions wanted by the United States which will “not only against our economic interests“but are”more inefficient“.
A position at odds with that of Valérie Pécresse, who advocates having “first of all“recourse to sanctions”farms” and “economic (…) targeted at Russia“. “What I see is that once again Vladimir Putin has manipulated Europe, instrumentalized his dialogue with Emmanuel Macron“, she also lamented, calling for “condemn strongly, resolutely, which is a violation of international law“.
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“We cannot blame the president for having sought to dialogue“, also recognized the candidate LR, before criticizing the method. “What we can blame him for is having been so late, and the solitary dialogue did not help. He staged himself by going to Moscow alone, he should have gone there with the German chancellor, with representatives of the European Union.»
Mélenchon fears a “bad deal” for France
On the left, the communist Fabien Roussel, who says to himself “neither pro-Putin nor pro-American“, mentioned”an extremely serious and dangerous decisionfrom Moscow, assuring that “everything must be done to defuse this war which threatens the gates of Europe“. Ecologist Yannick Jadot also reported a “serious violation of law» and a «threatens“requiring”sanctions taken against those responsible“, in particular on “their assets and real estate in Europe“.
Socialist Party candidate Anne Hidalgo, for her part, called on France and Europe to be “united, united and firm in the face of this threat to peace in Europe“, while Christiane Taubira mentioned “a serious danger” and an “solidarity» with Ukraine who «must not fail“.
Read alsoUkraine: from the Maidan revolution to Russian recognition of the Donbass separatists
More ambiguous on the subject, Jean-Luc Mélenchon mentioned “a very bad deal for the French“, while recalling that “the implosion of the USSR is the first instance in the modern era of an Empire collapsing without negotiation of the resulting borders“. If he sees “an escalation“including Russia”bears the responsibility“, he fears that the United States will integrate Ukraine into NATO – “another bad deal for us French who have no interest in the extension of the military domination of the USA and their interests on our continent.» «Putin must have understood that the decision was already made and he could never get a guarantee on this subject“, he continues, adding that “the recognition of the republics of Donbass is therefore its taking more in the new order which settles in this region.»