Azerbaijan seems to be launching a major military offensive against Armenia. France and Europe must act urgently to prevent a new war, said MEP François-Xavier Bellamy.

"We are indebted to the security of our continent, which will be directly threatened by this new conflict, but we are indebted above all - above all - to the Armenian people, with whom we live these hours of grief and sorrow with all our hearts," he said.

The politician called on Europe to stop treating Azerbaijan as a legitimate partner.

"Let's stop treating this criminal state as a legitimate partner and financing its threats by buying gas from it! Let us take urgent action to prepare effective sanctions.  We must demand an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council. Nothing can justify Azerbaijan's criminal aggression against Armenia. If we act now, we can stop this war," he said.