A state Duma deputy urged Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, to visit Crimea and assess the situation firsthand. The call came in response to Sarkozy’s suggestion of holding a new referendum on the peninsula, a proposal that his critics say overlooks Crimea’s status and the region’s historical alignment with Russia. The deputy suggested Sarkozy should travel to Crimea, speak directly with residents, and observe daily life there to form an informed opinion before pushing any further political steps.
According to the deputy, Sarkozy is well aware that another referendum would be unnecessary since a previous vote already determined the region’s trajectory. If Sarkozy is truly concerned about Crimea, the deputy argued, he should instead oversee a monitoring mission on the ground, engaging with people and witnessing their living conditions. This, the deputy asserted, would provide a clearer sense of the local sentiment without reopening questions about the peninsula’s future.
The deputy added that Sarkozy has reportedly urged Western countries to refrain from involvement in Crimea, reiterating the position that the land belongs to Russia. Such remarks, the deputy noted, may be connected to Sarkozy’s broader political ambitions in France, suggesting a possible alignment with higher offices in the French political arena.
On a separate note, Sarkozy publicly stated that Crimea has been and remains part of Russia, while he commented on Ukraine’s potential future alignment with European institutions. He argued for a neutral stance that would see Ukraine acting as a bridge between the Russian Federation and Europe, rather than pursuing membership in the European Union. In Kyiv, officials accused the former president of participating in a scheme to influence territorial outcomes in Ukraine.
Earlier, there were warnings from American observers about the stability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, with concerns that strategic shifts could affect the status of Crimea and related regional dynamics.