Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
13 hours ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
13 hours ago
Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
13 hours ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
13 hours ago
“If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request [of sending ground troops to Ukraine], which is not the case today, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question.”
“There is a risk our Europe could die. We are not equipped to face the risks. Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine. Europeans should give preference to buying European military equipment. We must produce more, we must produce faster, and we must produce as Europeans.”
“There is no consensus at this stage ... to send troops on the ground. Nothing should be excluded. We will do everything that we must so that Russia does not win. Many people who say 'Never, never' today were the same people who said 'never tanks, never planes, never long-range missiles' two years ago. Let us have the humility to note that we have often been six to twelve months late. This was the objective of this evening's discussion: everything is possible if it is useful to achieve our objective.”
“I think our policy is the right one. It's based on the courage of President Bazoum, and on the commitments of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite all the pressure, despite all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities.”
“In recent days, France has sent Ukraine more arms, rocket launchers, Crotale (air defence batteries), equipment beyond what we had already done. We are also working with the armed forces minister [Sebastien Lecornu] to be able to deliver useful arms and ammunition again in the first quarter [of 2023] so that the Ukrainians would be able to defend themselves against bombardments.”
“I told him [Putin ] that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history. I think he has isolated himself. Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path.”
“Russia has chosen to continue its war in Ukraine. Tonight, as Europeans, united and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, we are taking new decisive sanctions.”
“What happened in Bucha demands a new round of sanctions and very clear measures. The scenes are unbearable. International justice must work. Those who were behind these crimes must respond.”
“I obtained that there will be no degradation nor escalation. My aim was to freeze the game, to prevent an escalation and open up new perspectives. This objective for me is fulfilled.”
“We won't get unilateral gestures, but it is indispensable to prevent a degradation of the situation before building confidence gestures and mechanisms. The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU. The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security.”
“Caledonians have chosen to remain French. They decided that freely. We can't ignore that the electorate remained deeply divided over the years … A period of transition is now starting.”
“That region is going through new tensions today. History is coming back. Sometimes tragedy is coming back. Today we have a special responsibility towards the Western Balkans. EU should pursue a policy of re-engagement, but also investment in order to favor the economic integration of the region; develop human exchange, raise the issue of minorities present in the region, but also fight against influence and manipulation who want to destabilise Europe through the Balkans. I believe that this political and economic work towards the Western Balkans is a real sovereignty agenda for our Europe because we cannot build a peaceful Europe in the next 50 years if we leave the Western Balkans in the current situation. That means clarifying its European perspective, reinvesting to the region and its unity and to have a common ambition for the decades to come.”
“We are thinking of an organisation between several European countries … a common location for several Europeans, which would allow our ambassadors to be present. This is a different demarche than a political recognition or political dialogue with the Taliban … we will have a representation as soon as we can open.”