Speaking at the Economist’s 2nd Metropolitan Summit, held in partnership with Power Game, Mr Hollande said it was difficult to predict whether Putin would lose power in Russia and estimated that if he loses the war in Ukraine, then the system that builds its dominance will be undermined.
The need for Putin to be defeated and to retreat from the territories of Ukraine that he occupied after last February was pointed out by the former president of the French Republic, Francois Hollande, because, as he said, if we only have a “freeze” of the war conflict, there may also be other countries that will follow Russia’s example, believing that they can be imposed by the use of force.
He cited China as an example, saying that if Putin loses in Ukraine, he will know that he will only have to lose if he turns against Taiwan.
Speaking at the Economist’s 2nd Metropolitan Summit, held in partnership with Power Game, Mr Hollande said it was difficult to predict whether Putin would lose power in Russia and estimated that if he loses the war in Ukraine, then the system that builds its dominance will be undermined.
Referring to the attitude of the European Union towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis, he emphasized that there is no time to lose and emphasized the need for unity and solidarity.
“Europe always takes good decisions but it is too often too late to take them. But today we have no time to waste. Europe has proven in recent years that it has managed to overcome many shocks and avoid division, as proof I can cite what we have achieved with the cohesion of the Eurozone, but also the management of the financial crisis, the policy of vaccinations, the establishment of the European funds available to the member states of the European Union”, he said indicatively.
He observed, however, that things are fragile because the cost of sanctions is of course painful for Russia, but also for the countries that decide on them, so the question is whether the cohesion and solidarity that Europe is showing will resist them the effects of sanctions, such as rising energy prices and inflation.
Based on the above, the risks for Europe are:
– To find some countries that will request the lifting of sanctions against Russia, considering that public opinion cannot suffer this kind of retaliation from Russia. As he said, Hungary has already developed such a logic, some other countries are following, in a few days we have the elections in Italy and if the right-wing faction wins them, he has already stated the desire to lift some of the sanctions.
-A fatigue in the bosom of society that has shown solidarity with Ukraine, but considers that the war is going on too long and must end even at the expense of Ukraine.
-Many states find it increasingly difficult to accept the effects of war.
The challenges facing Europe are:
-The price and quantity of energy. To reduce the dependence on Russia, to somehow put a ceiling on the price of natural gas and to redistribute the prices to consumers.
-In most member states economies have deteriorated and now further spending is called for to help subsidized households.
-The development of the defense of the European Union.
“We must ensure the solidarity and robustness of Europe. We must act quickly to convince our societies that we have a holistic policy and to secure energy supplies and we can only do this with solidarity through Europe. Through the answer that Europe will give will also be the answer to the resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” the former president of the French Republic emphasized.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
