You're reading: Marine Le Pen says US played role in imposing European sanctions on Russia

MOSCOW - The French government, both the incumbent and the previous one, has been susceptible to the United States' influence, National Front leader Marine Le Pen told journalists on May 27 following a meeting with Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin in Moscow.

“The problem is that the French government, both the incumbent one led by [Francois] Hollande and the previous one by Nicolas Sarkozy, have been susceptible very much to the United States’ influence,” Le Pen said.

“The U.S. played an important role in the adoption of [the European Union’s] sanctions against Russia,” she said.

The situation surrounding the Mistral helicopter carriers and the French leadership’s refusal to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 could serve as examples of the U.S.’ influence on France’s policies, she said.

“The decisions that have been made on the Mistrals, the incomprehensible behavior regarding their refusal to take part in the recent commemorative events – I think this is real obedience to the U.S.’ position,” she said.

Le Pen said she hoped “France will regain its freedom of expression and democratic freedom.”

“But I am not sure the Hollande government is capable of changing anything,” she said.

“The way the situation in the world develops requires an exchange of opinions on such important issues as the Ukraine crisis, the worsening of the Islamic State situation, the danger of terrorist attacks in relevant countries, and the financial situation in the world,” as “nothing can guarantee us that a new economic crisis won’t happen, particularly in light of the problems in Greece and in Italy,” she said.

Russia is also not indifferent to what is happening in Europe, Le Pen said. “Therefore, I am happy to have the opportunity to regularly exchange opinions with Mr. Naryshkin on important subjects, on which, I should say, we very often have similar views,” she said.

In response to a question from journalists, Le Pen said France’s attitude toward Russia “may change in the middle of 2017, when Marin Le Pen’s is elected the president of the republic.”