Sarkozy arrived in Moscow on Wednesday night. Later in the day he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"There is no sense in isolating Russia, we need to talk to Russia especially when we disagree," Sarkozy said in an address to the students of Russia's MGIMO University.
He added that "this dialogue is not always easy because it requires respect, an effort to put aside cliches and stereotypes."
"Today the ties between Europe and Russia are being tested. The logic of confrontation has been launched again, we should not give in to that, but to replace it with the logic of rapprochement and cooperation," the former French leader pointed out.
Relations between Russia and the European Union went downhill in 2014, when Brussels joined Washington in accusing Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis, imposing economic sanctions as a punitive measure.
The Russian authorities have refuted the accusations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the Western measures, in August 2014 Russia announced a one-year food embargo on products originating in states that imposed sanctions. The ban has since been extended for another year.
Nicolas Sarkozy held the office of French president from 2007 to 2012. Sarkozy retired from political life following his defeat in the 2012 presidential election. In September 2014, Sarkozy announced that he intended to run for the country's top position once again.
Russia is needed to resolve the challenges that the world is currently facing, French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday.
Sarkozy arrived in Moscow on Wednesday night. Later in the day he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia is indispensable. Without Russia we would not be able to resolve the challenges the world faces," Sarkozy said while addressing students at Russia's MGIMO University in Moscow.
He added that "those who forgot about the role of Russia made a grave mistake, but France did not forget."
"Russia is destined to be a great power, not a regional power," Sarkozy stressed, adding that this status brings the additional responsibility of promoting "respect of international law and choice of dialogue."
Syrian President Bashar Assad’s leaving power should not be a prerequisite for reconciliation talks to begin, Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"We should not wait for Assad to go to start the settlement…this should not be a precondition," Sarkozy said addressing the students at Russia's MGIMO University in Moscow.
Sarkozy stressed that a political solution is impossible without the participation of all sides involved in the situation.
"I'm convinced that the person responsible for [the deaths of] 250, 000 people cannot represent the future of his country. At a certain point he will have to leave,” he said.
