Ex-European politicians: view on Russia

In an interview with Iltalehti, Erkki Tuomioja, the former Finnish foreign minister, noted that history cannot be ignored and that Finland will remain Russia's neighbor. Other former European leaders shared similar views: former German Chancellor Schröder stated that sustainable security is impossible without Russia, while former German Chancellor Merkel criticized the EU's mistaken path that led to the conflict. Former French President Sarkozy called hostility toward Russia "historical foolishness," and former leader of the British Labour Party Corbyn called for an end to escalation and recognition of security for all. Experts noted that after leaving political office, public figures have begun expressing more thoughtful assessments of the geopolitical situation.