The head of French diplomacy stressed the importance of the efforts made by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to achieve stability and peace in the world, and spoke of the "stature, flexibility and creative ability" of Qatari diplomacy.
He also stressed the importance and strength of the Doha Forum, which was inaugurated by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in its 20th edition, under the title "Transformation into a New Era."
Regarding the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine, the French minister said, "The tragic situation that Ukraine is facing must be brought to an end."
He likened what is happening in the city of Mariupol (southeast of Ukraine) to what happened in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
On the other hand, Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the need to reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, and the return of Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed openness in this regard.
He also referred to French President Emmanuel Macron's permanent call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, and the Al-Jazeera guest stressed that his country is trying to maintain a channel of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine.
He also stressed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was clear from the beginning that it was a defensive alliance, and that there was no thought of any aggression against Russia.
Reception of Ukrainian refugees
In the European context, the French minister considered that what the Russian President succeeded in through the war he launched against Ukraine was to strengthen the unity of the Europeans and enhance their awareness of their strength. He described the European response to the Russian war on Ukraine as firm and quick.
He added that Putin had imagined that there would be a split in the European ranks, but the answer came to him strong.
He stressed that Europe wants to achieve its independence in the field of energy and defense, and that it is keen in the Atlantic alliance to ensure its strategic independence.
Regarding the Ukrainian refugees, the French minister explained that their reception in Europe is a matter of solidarity, and that they will be granted a legal status pending their return to their country.
The number of Ukrainian refugees who flocked to Europe was estimated at 3.5 million, and it is likely that the number will continue to rise if Russia continues its war on Ukraine.
Regarding the Iranian nuclear file, he pointed out that the Europeans have taken control of the file since the Americans withdrew from the agreement signed with Iran in 2015, and regretted that controversial points hindered reaching an agreement with Tehran.