French President Macron Says Russia Must Be Defeated But Not Crushed

 

BBC: Ukraine war: Russia must be defeated but not crushed, Macron says 

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he does not want to see Russia crushed by a defeat in Ukraine. 

Speaking to French media, Mr Macron urged Western nations to increase military support for Kyiv and said he was prepared for a protracted war. 

"I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position," he said. 

But he hit out against those who he said wanted to extend the war to Russia itself in a bid to "crush" the nation. 

The comments came as world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference, which saw promises to speed up the supply of weapons to Kyiv and impose tougher sanctions on Moscow. 

"I do not think, as some people do, that we must aim for a total defeat of Russia, attacking Russia on its own soil," Mr Macron told the paper Le Journal du Dimanche. 

"Those observers want to, above all else, crush Russia. That has never been the position of France and it will never be our position."  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Macron Wants to See Russia Defeated but Not Crushed in Ukraine (VOA) 

Update #2: 'Not the time for dialogue' with Russia's Putin, Macron says at Munich summit (France 24).  

WNU Editor: French President Macron says he is against Russian regime change, but that has always been the goal .... Macron: I don’t believe for one second in Russian regime change (The Telegraph). 

Russia has responded .... Russia tells Macron: Don't forget Napoleon when you talk of regime change (Reuters).

Gazprom Cuts French Natural Gas Supplies Over A Contract Dispute

Europe is already on notice that Gazprom will shut off the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany from August 31 to September 2 for maintenance. (file photo)  

Politico: Gazprom cuts gas deliveries to France’s Engie 

The company did not specify the reason for the dispute, but did say it ‘had already secured the volumes necessary to meet its commitment towards its customers.’ 

French utility Engie announced that Russian energy giant Gazprom will reduce gas deliveries as of today over a contract disagreement. 

The company did not specify the reason for the dispute, but did say it “had already secured the volumes necessary to meet its commitment towards its customers and its own requirements,” adding that measures were in place to reduce the potential “financial and physical impacts” of the disruption.

Emmanuelle Wargon, the head of France's energy regulatory commission, said today that the agency is “not too worried” about the supply squeeze, saying French gas reserves are now 91 percent full and should be entirely filled by the end of September or the beginning of October.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Energy prices are already sky-high in France. This interruption will only push prices higher.

Gazprom Cuts French Natural Gas Supplies Over A Contract Dispute  

Gazprom cuts gas supplies to France as winter energy crisis looms -- Reuters 

Russia's Gazprom Further Cuts Gas Deliveries To France -- AFP  

Gazprom To Further Reduce Gas Deliveries To France's Engie -- RFE  

Gazprom To Slash NatGas Deliveries To France's Top Utility As Squeeze Worsens -- Zero Hedge  

Russia's Gazprom is cutting gas supply to a top French utility after France's leader warns of rationing -- Market Insider  

Engie: Gazprom to Slash Gas Deliveries Over Contract Disagreements -- UK Investing

Argument Between Macron And Putin Four Days Before Ukraine War Is Leaked To The French Press

 

Daily Mail: Extraordinary argument between Macron and Putin four days before Ukraine war is revealed - to Moscow's fury: French leader blasted Russian aggression... then Vladimir ended call by saying 'I'm in the gym' 

* Leaders held a fiery phone call on February 20 as Macron tried to prevent war 

* Macron accused Putin of breaking the law by giving power to separatists 

* The details of the confidential call have been revealed in a French documentary 

* Sergei Lavrov said the publication is a breach of 'diplomatic etiquette' 

Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin had a furious telephone bust-up just four days before Russian forces invaded Ukraine, a bombshell recording has revealed. 

The French president blasted his counterpart over suggestions he should negotiate with pro-Russian separatists, exclaiming at one point: 'I don't know where your lawyers learned the law!' 

The tense exchange ended with Putin declaring he is in the gym about to play ice hockey after brushing off requests to hold a meeting with Joe Biden.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. The next phone call between the two is going to be very uncomfortable. 

 Argument Between Macron And Putin Four Days Before Ukraine War Is Leaked To the French Press  

Lavrov Says Putin-Macron Call Leak Breached 'Diplomatic Etiquette -- Moscow Times/AFP  

France accused of breaching 'diplomatic etiquette' as private call between President Macron and Russia's Putin is leaked -- SKY News  

Russia rages over French leak of Vladimir Putin’s ‘ice hockey’ phone call -- The Telegraph  

Lavrov accuses France of breaching ‘diplomatic etiquette’ over release of Macron-Putin call -- Politico  

Leaked phone call reveals fiery exchange between Putin, Macron days before Ukraine war -- NYPost  

Russia criticises ‘unilateral leak’ of Putin-Macron call -- Al Jazeera

After Two Months Macron And Putin Resume Phone Contact But Still Remain Far Apart On The Ukraine War

This combination of file photographs created on September 14, 2020, shows (left) Russian President Vladimir Putin and France's President Emmanuel Macron (right). (Mikhail Klimentyev and Gonzalo Fuentes/various sources/AFP)  

Politico: Macron, Putin resume phone contact but remain far apart on Ukraine war 

French president urges end to ‘devastating aggression’ but Russian leader shows no sign of changing course. 

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for the first time in a month but the two leaders seemed as far apart as ever on Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Macron spoke frequently with Putin in the build-up to the invasion and in the weeks that followed. But the French leader had not talked to the Russian president since evidence emerged of mass killings of civilians by Russian forces in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, widely condemned as war crimes. 

Macron re-established telephone contact with Putin following a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, the Elysée palace said in a statement on the conversation with the Russian leader.  

Read more .... 

After Two Months Macron And Putin Resume Phone Contact But Still Remain Far Apart On The Ukraine War  

Putin asks Macron to help stop Ukrainian ‘war crimes’ -- RT  

Putin tells Macron Russia is ready to continue dialogue with Kiev - Kremlin -- TASS  

In call with Macron, Putin says West must stop supplying Ukraine with arms -- AFP  

What Macron told Putin in landmark 20th phone call with Russia president -- Express

French President Macron Convinced That After Phone Call With Putin ‘The Worst Is Yet To Come’ And That Russia Wants To Take All Of Ukraine

 

RFE: After Talks, Macron Says 'Nothing Reassuring' From Putin, Believes 'Worst Is Yet To Come' In Ukraine 

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader was "lying" to himself and making a "major mistake" in Ukraine that will cost Russia dearly in the long term, while Putin vowed that Russia will keep up its fight, according to separate accounts from Paris and Moscow of the leaders' long-distance conversation on March 3. 

As Putin's massive invasion of Ukraine entered its second week, Macron said there was "nothing in what President Putin said that could reassure us," an unnamed French presidential aide said, according to AFP. 

Macron believes "the worst is to come" in Ukraine after what was reportedly a 90-minute phone call with Putin, according to the aide. 

Ukrainian and Russian delegates gathered for challenging cease-fire talks in southern Belarus on March 3, the second such effort since the invasion began.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Make no mistake about it. It is all out war right now in Ukraine. Think about the Chechnya war but increased by a factor 20x. 

French President Macron Convinced That ‘The Worst Is Yet To Come’ And That Russia Wants To Take All Of Ukraine After Call With Putin  

After call with Putin, Macron convinced that ‘the worst is yet to come’ and that Russia wants to take all of Ukraine -- Washington Post 

'Delusional' Putin is intent on seizing 'the whole' of Ukraine to achieve 'de-nazification' with the worst violence yet to come, warns Macron after phone call with Russian leader -- Daily Mail  

"Worst is yet to come": Putin told Macron he will continue war in Ukraine, Élysée Palace source says -- CNN

Ukraine war: Putin prompts fears that ‘the worst is yet to come’ -- The Guardian  

After Putin-Macron Call, France Sees Russia Wanting 'All Ukraine' -- New York Times  

France's Macron thinks 'the worst is yet to come' in Ukraine after talking with Putin, reports say -- Insider  

Terrifying Putin Phone Call Warns ‘Worst Is Yet to Come’ -- Daily Beast

French President Macron's Refusal To Take A Russian Covid Test Was The Reason Why Putin Kept A Distance From Macron

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow  

Reuters: Putin kept Macron at a distance for snubbing COVID demands: sources 

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron refused a Kremlin request that he take a Russian COVID-19 test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin this week, and was therefore kept at a distance from the Russian leader, two sources in Macron's entourage told Reuters. 

Observers were struck by images of Macron and Putin sitting at opposite ends of 4-metre-long (13 ft) table to discuss the Ukraine crisis on Monday, with some diplomats and others suggesting Putin might be wanting to send a diplomatic message. 

But the two sources, who have knowledge of the French president's health protocol, told Reuters Macron had been given a choice: either he accepted a PCR test done by the Russian authorities and was allowed to get close to Putin, or he refused and had to abide by more stringent social distancing.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: President Biden used an even longer table yesterday in a meeting with the CEOs of electric utilities (see below):

Photographs taken during a roundtable meeting with CEOs of electric utilities on Wednesday saw Joe Biden using a ginormous 30ft table in the White House state dining room

Kremlin Denies Reports That Putin Promised No 'New Military Initiatives' Near Ukraine After Talks With Macron

Repeatedly thanking Macron for coming to Moscow, Putin said at a joint press conference that the French leader had presented several ideas worth studying  

Daily Mail: Russia makes a fool of Macron by DENYING that Putin agreed on Ukraine deal despite French leader's claims... amid fiery warnings from Moscow of a nuclear war if Kiev joins NATO 

* Russia has denied reports that President Putin and France's Emmanuel Macron made a deal in talks yesterday 

* Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said reports were 'essentially wrong' and a deal was 'simply impossible' 

* Putin, in a press conference after talks yesterday, warned a nuclear war could break out if Ukraine joins NATO 

* The Russian strongman accused the West of 'complete disregard for our concerns' hours after Moscow talks 

* Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met yesterday for talks in bid to diffuse the crisis over Ukraine 

* Moscow has massed 100,000 soldiers along the Russian and Belarusian border with Ukraine in recent months 

Russia has denied reports that Vladimir Putin agreed a deal on Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Moscow yesterday despite Paris' claim he managed to exact concessions from the Kremlin. 

The denial comes amid fiery warnings from Moscow that a nuclear war could break out if Ukraine joins NATO and after Putin accused the West of 'complete disregard for our concerns' following the six-hour-long talks yesterday. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said today the reports of an agreement between Putin and Macron were 'essentially wrong' because it was 'simply impossible' for Moscow and Paris to 'conclude any deals'. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: No one really expected a breakthrough .... Talks between Macron and Putin fail to produce Ukraine breakthrough (The Guardian). 

Kremlin Denies Reports That Putin Promised No 'New Military Initiatives' Near Ukraine After Talks With Macron  

‘FT was wrong’: Kremlin shoots down alleged Putin-Macron deal on Ukraine de-escalation -- TASS  

Kremlin denies Putin told Macron there will be no new manoeuvres near Ukraine -- Reuters  

France says Putin promised no 'new military initiatives' near Ukraine in talks with Macron -- ABC News  

Macron reveals Putin 'guarantees' -- RT

Presidents Macron And Putin Discuss How To Lessen Tensions Over Ukraine

 

Daily Mail: Still miles apart? Putin says Russia will 'do everything to find compromises' after meeting with Macron but again blames the West for Ukraine tensions 

* Russian military officials said to be worried an invasion of Ukraine would be more costly than Putin realises 

* US claims to have intercepted communications warning 'game plan' is unclear and may be difficult to pull off 

* Comes just hours after Leonid Ivashov, a general-turned-politician, publicly warned Putin against an attack 

* Emmanuel Macron is in Moscow today for a meeting with Vladimir Putin, saying he hopes to 'avoid a war' 

* He sat ten feet away from Putin at a long table commentators suggested symbolised the gulf between them 

Vladimir Putin claimed in his meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday that Russia would 'do everything to find compromises' over Ukraine - but again blamed the West for ongoing tensions. 

Emerging from nearly five hours of talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders - who had sat at least ten feet apart with the help of an enormous table - voiced hope that a solution could be found to the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. 

Repeatedly thanking Macron for coming to Moscow, Putin said at a joint press conference that the French leader had presented several ideas worth studying.  

Read more .... 

Presidents Macron And Putin Discuss How To Lessen Tensions Over Ukraine  

Ukraine crisis: Macron meets with Putin in Moscow -- DW 

Putin says some of Macron's ideas could form basis to move forward -- Reuters 

Putin says Russia will 'do everything to find compromises' with West -- France 24

France's Macron calls for 'de-escalation' of Ukraine crisis in Putin meeting -- UPI  

Macron meets with Putin, leading Europe's diplomatic efforts to defuse Ukraine crisis -- CNN 

Russia, France share concern over security situation in Europe — Putin -- TASS 

Putin: Russia's Key Security Concerns Ignored by US, NATO -- Sputnik  

Putin and Macron reveal outcome of key Ukraine talks -- RT

All Roads Lead To Moscow

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron address a joint press conference during their meeting in Berlin in January [File: Kay Nietfeld/AFP]  

Al Jazeera: French, German leaders to visit Russia and Ukraine amid tension 

Diplomatic push by Macron and Scholz comes as US accuses Kremlin of plotting a ‘false flag attack’ to justify military action. 

The French president and the German chancellor will head to Moscow and Kyiv in the coming weeks, adding to diplomatic efforts to try to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching an invasion of Ukraine and find a way out of the growing tensions. 

France’s Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, while Germany’s Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv on February 14 and Moscow on February 15. 

Read more ....  

Update: Kremlin is top destination for spooked European leaders (AP)  

WNU Editor: French President Macron will be the first European leader in Moscow, and his view on how to de-escalate the crisis is (IMHO) the right first step that should be pursued to de-escalate the crisis .... Macron vows ‘de-escalation,’ but hints at concessions to Putin (Politico.com.eu).

France Says Russian Fighters Made An Unsafe Intercept Of French Air Force Aircraft Over The Black Sea

 

Defence Blog: Russian fighters make unsafe intercept of French Air Force aircraft over Black Sea 

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets on Wednesday conducted an “unsafe” intercept of a group of French Air Force aircraft operating over the Black Sea. 

Two French Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft and a KC-135FR aerial refueling tanker flying over international waters in the Black Sea when it was intercepted by two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets. 

Russian fighters were approaching an unsafe distance to French aircraft, which posed a threat to their crews. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Russian Fighters Intercept French Jets Over Black Sea (Defense Post/AFP) 

Update #2: Russian Su-27 fighters intercept French military aircraft over Black Sea (TASS) 

WNU Editor: Russia is claiming that their intercept followed all international norms .... ‘No violations allowed’: WATCH Russian Su-27 jets drive away NATO warplanes over Black Sea, trio of French aircraft intercepted (RT). More here .... Two Russian Su-27s Intercept French Military Aircraft Heading for Russian Borders Over Black Sea (Sputnik).

France's Cybersecurity Agency ANSSI Reveals Suspected Russian Intelligence Hacking Campaign

RFE: French Cyberagency Reveals Suspected Russian Hacking Campaign 

France's cybersecurity watchdog says it has discovered a hack of French organizations that bore similarities to other attacks by a group linked to Russian intelligence. 

In a report released on February 15, the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) said the hackers had taken advantage of a vulnerability in monitoring software sold by the Paris-based company Centreon. 

ANSSI said it discovered intrusions dating back to late 2017 and stretching into 2020. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Apparently this Russian cyber campaign has been ongoing since 2017.

 More News On France's Cybersecurity Agency ANSSI Revealing A Suspected Russian Intelligence Hacking Campaign 

France uncovers cybersecurity breaches linked to Russian hackeers -- France 24 

France identifies Russia-linked hackers in large cyberattack -- Politico.eu 

France Ties Russia's Sandworm to a Multiyear Hacking Spree -- Wired 

France: Security officials fear Russian hacking attack -- DW 

What is Putin up to? Macron panic as France discovers devastating Russian hacking plot -- Daily Express

French President Macron Denies Accepting Putin's Anti-Missile Proposal

France has said EU states want to play a role in negotiations after the demise of the pact. Kremlin.ru

Moscow Times/Reuters: France's Macron Denies Accepting Putin's Anti-Missile Proposal

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denied having accepted a Russian proposal to impose a moratorium on missile deployments in Europe, but said it was important the Kremlin initiative not be simply dismissed.

Russia has called on the United States and other countries to declare a moratorium on the deployment of short and intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe after a treaty banning such a move formally ended in August.

Macron, who met transatlantic alliance NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Paris for talks on Thursday, said France had "absolutely not accepted" the proposal.

"But we considered that, as a basis for discussion, we shouldn't just brush it off... Let's be serious, this is the security of Europe we're talking about," he said.

Read more ....

More News On French President Macron Not Accepting Putin's Anti-Missile Proposal

France's Macron Rejects Putin's Missile Moratorium Proposal -- Sputnik
Macron calls for ‘new’ security architecture with Russia, but rejects its offer of moratorium on short- & and mid-range missiles -- RT
Macron Denies Accepting Putin's Missile Moratorium For Europe: "Absolutely Not Accepted" -- Zero Hedge

French Government Probing Russian Influence On Yellow Vest Riots

French CRS riot police protect themselves from flames during clashes at the traditional May Day labour union march in Paris, France, May 1, 2017. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Bloomberg: France to Probe Possible Russian Influence on Yellow Vest Riots

* Security services to look into social media, minister says
* Russian-linked sites increase targeting of French protests

France opened a probe into possible Russian interference behind the country’s Yellow Vest protests, after reports that social-media accounts linked to Moscow have increasingly targeted the movement.

According to the Alliance for Securing Democracy, about 600 Twitter accounts known to promote Kremlin views have begun focusing on France, boosting their use of the hashtag #giletsjaunes, the French name for the Yellow Vest movement. French security services are looking at the situation, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday in a radio interview with RTL.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: WOW! The Russians are everywhere. Any retrospection that maybe it is French government policies that have brought about these protests .... of course not.

France Accuses Russia Of Trying To Spy On Its Military Communications Satellite

Florence Parly said the Athena-Fidus satellite (pictured), operated jointly by France and Italy, was approached 'a bit too closely' by Russia's Luch-Olymp

The Guardian: 'Act of espionage': France accuses Russia of trying to spy on satellite data

Defence minister says Russia’s Luch-Olymp craft got ‘so close’ to French military satellite last year

The French defence minister has accused Russia of attempting to intercept France’s satellite communications, calling it an act of espionage.

Florence Parly said Russia tried to intercept transmissions and spy on a satellite providing secure communications for the French military last year.

In a speech outlining France’s space policy and security issues, Parly said that the Athena-Fidus satellite, operated jointly by France and Italy, was approached “a bit too closely” by Russia’s Luch-Olymp craft, known for its advanced listening capacity.

Read more ....

More News On France Accusing Russia Of Trying To Spy On Its Military Communications Satellite

France says Russia satellite spied in ‘Star Wars’ hostility -- AP
Now Moscow's 'spying in SPACE': France accuses Russian craft 'with big ears' of trying to eavesdrop on its military communications satellite -- Daily Mail
Russia 'tried to spy on France in space' - French minister -- BBC
France accuses Russia of spying on military from space -- Reuters
Russian Spy Satellite Tried to Steal Military Information From France, Defense Minister Says -- Newsweek
Why has Russian satellite crossed the orbit? To spy on our military comms, says French minister -- RT
French Defense Ministry Claims Russia Spied on French-Italian Military Satellite -- Sputnik

Armed Russian Jet Flies Low Over French Warship Off The Coast Of Syria

The French warship Aquitaine. Wikipedia

Reuters: Amid Syria tensions, Russian jet flies low over French warship

PARIS (Reuters) - A Russian warplane this weekend flew over a French warship at low altitude in the eastern Mediterranean, a deliberate breach of international regulations, a French naval source said on Tuesday.

The incident, first reported by Le Point magazine, comes as tensions mount between Russia and Western nations following a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria on April 7. At least 60 people were killed in the attack, according to a Syrian relief agency.

France, the United States and their allies are considering a coordinated military response after accusing the Russia-backed Syrian government of being behind the attack. Damascus and Moscow have denied a chemical attack took place.

The weekly magazine said the Russian plane had flown over frigate Aquitaine over the weekend and was fully-armed.

Read more ....

Update: Russian jet makes aggressive move over French frigate in Eastern Mediterranean (UNIAN)

WNU Editor: Unlike the previous story .... Reports That Russian Warplanes Are Buzzing The USS Donald Cook Off The Coast Of Syria Are False .... this one is true. Did the news media make a mistake when they first reported this story .... Russian Warplanes Are 'Harassing' The U.S. Destroyer USS Donald Cook Off The Coast Of Syria .... maybe.

U.S. Accuses Russia Of Using Facebook To Spy On French President Macron's Election Campaign

Regis Duvignau/File Photo

Reuters: Exclusive: Russia used Facebook to try to spy on Macron campaign - sources

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Russian intelligence agents attempted to spy on President Emmanuel Macron's election campaign earlier this year by creating phony Facebook personas, according to a U.S. Congressman and two other people briefed on the effort.

About two dozen Facebook accounts were created to conduct surveillance on Macron campaign officials and others close to the centrist former financier as he sought to defeat far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and other opponents in the two-round election, the sources said. Macron won in a landslide in May.

Facebook said in April it had taken action against fake accounts that were spreading misinformation about the French election. But the effort to infiltrate the social networks of Macron officials has not previously been reported.

Read more ....

Update #1: Russian Spies Used Facebook To Trick Macron Allies: Report (Newsweek)
Update #2: Facebook helped blunt Russian meddling in French elections (Endgadget)

WNU editor: When you scroll down this Reuters report you find the following gem ....

.... Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in the French election by hacking and leaking emails and documents. U.S. intelligence agencies told Reuters in May that hackers with connections to the Russian government were involved, but they did not have conclusive evidence that the Kremlin ordered the hacking.

They admit that they have no evidence .... but that is OK .... we blame Russia anyway .... and the rest of the news media and pundit class follows.

When I was growing up people who thought like this were laughed out of the room .... today .... government policies, news reporting, intelligence analysis .... it is all based on opinions, one's prejudices,  and what do they feel at the moment. And to back their point of view .... rush to find like-minded people and point to them and say that they must be right because these people think like me.

Is Russia Meddling In France's Presidential Campaign?

VICE News: Russia's fake news machine is targeting the French elections

In early April, the Russian state media outlet Sputnik published a story suggesting Emmanuel Macron, centrist candidate for the French presidency, was “a U.S. agent” and possibly “acting in the interests of the U.S. financial market in France.” Another article, published in French, claimed Macron’s campaign was being financed by Saudi Arabia — and despite being completely inaccurate, it generated 10,000 likes, shares, and comments on Facebook.

The Russian fake-media machine has trained its sights on the French elections, and there are just two days to go in what has been a roller-coaster campaign. Opinion polls have the leading candidates, far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, left-wing veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, conservative François Fillon, and centrist, pro-Europe candidate Emmanuel Macron separated by the polling margin of error ahead of the Sunday vote.

Read more ....

More News On Concerns That Russia Is Meddling In France's Presidential Campaign

France concerned over Russian interference in elections amid reports of hacking, fake news -- FOX News
U.S. Eyes Russian Meddling in French Presidential Campaign -- NBC
Russian interference looms over European elections -- The Hill
Russia Campaigns for the French Presidency -- Stratfor

French Presidential Contender Le Pen Meets Russian President Putin At The Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Marine Le Pen in Moscow. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

Reuters: Russia's Putin meets French presidential contender Le Pen in Kremlin

President Vladimir Putin granted an audience to French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen in the Kremlin on Friday, bestowing a level of international recognition that has so far eluded her in the countdown to France's presidential election.

Opinion polls show Le Pen getting through to the second, decisive round of the French presidential election on May 7 but then losing to centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Le Pen, who has said she admires Putin, reiterated her call for a lifting of the European Union's economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in the Ukraine conflict.

"We attach great importance to our relations with France, but at the same time we try to maintain equal relations both with the current authorities and with representatives of the opposition," said Putin ahead of his talks with Le Pen.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: When I heard about this meeting I said to myself .... why go and meet Putin now? And when I look at the above photo .... Putin has the look of a cat that just ate the canary.

More News On French Presidential Contender Le Pen Meeting Russian President Putin At The Kremlin

Putin meets Le Pen, denies French election interference -- AP
Putin Meets Le Pen as Far Right Leader Criticizes Sanctions -- Bloomberg
Putin meets French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen at Kremlin -- CNN
National Front leader Le Pen meets with Putin in Moscow -- RFI
Putin Meets Le Pen, Says Not Seeking To Influence French Vote -- RFE
Le Pen and Putin discuss counter-terrorism and French elections in surprise Moscow meeting -- City AM
Aide to France's Le Pen says Putin wished her 'good luck' with election -- Reuters

France Will Be Electing A Putin-Friendly President Next Year

FILE PHOTO. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and his French counterpart Francois Fillon shake hands as they meet in Moscow, November 18, 2011. © Natalia Kolesnikova / Reuters

Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg: Vladimir Putin Is Winning the French Election

While it's unclear how well Russian President Vladimir Putin will get along with Donald Trump and his team of Republican hawks, it looks as though he has already won the French presidential election. The front-runner in the primary vote of the French center-right, Francois Fillon, is nearly as enthusiastic a Russophile as Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, and the center-left hardly stands a chance in next year's presidential election.

France is clearly in for some surprises in the election, scheduled for April 23, 2017. It already seems prudent to start disregarding the polls, just as sensible observers did before the U.S. election. Alain Juppe was considered to be the center-right front-runner before the primary. According to the polls, he was the one candidate who could confidently beat Le Pen. In the event, former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who hoped for a political comeback and rivaled Le Pen in anti-immigrant toughness and euroskepticism, gave up after coming in third -- and called on his backers to support Fillon, the surprise winner with a big lead over Juppe.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The French are going to throw out the Socialists and French President Hollande in next year's elections. They are polling in the low teens .... and they will be lucky to even get that. Francois Fillion is the clear favorite right now .... and his election will culminate in a push to end sanctions with Russia .... a priority for Russian President Putin as he is going to be facing his electorate in March 2018, and the economy is the number one concern for most Russians.

Russian President Putin Cancels Paris Trip Over Syria

The Telegraph: Putin cancels Paris trip as diplomatic crisis over Syria deepens

Vladimir Putin has cancelled a trip to Paris next week after the French government accused Russian and Syrian government forces of committing war crimes in Aleppo, amid a deepening diplomatic rift over the conflict there.

"The president has decided to cancel this visit," Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin’s spokesman, said on Tuesday.

"From the very start of his exchanges with his French colleague, President Putin noted that he is ready to visit Paris when it is comfortable for President Hollande. So we'll wait for when that comfortable time comes," he added.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Can't say that I am surprised.

More News On Russian President Putin Cancelling His Paris Trip Over Syria

Putin shuns Paris visit after France offers talks only on Syria -- Reuters
Putin postpones Paris visit amid diplomatic row over Syria -- France 24
Vladimir Putin cancels Paris visit amid Syria row -- The Guardian
Syria conflict: Russia's Putin halts France visit amid row -- BBC
Vladimir Putin snubs France after Syria war crimes comments -- CNN
France: Putin Will Not Meet With Hollande for Syria-Only Talks -- VOA
Putin Cancels France Trip After President Hollande Accuses Russia of War Crimes in Syria -- TIME
Putin cancels visit to France amid Syria tensions -- RT

Update: Russia - U.K. relations also entering a deep freeze .... British lawmaker likens Russia's behavior in Syria to that of Nazis (Reuters).