Le Pen: France, 'Under Influence' Of U.S., Put Sanctions On Russia
France's right-wing party leader Marine Le Pen has blamed the United States for influencing France to impose sanctions on Russia, in a move which led to Russia's cancellation of the coveted Mistral contract.
Following a meeting with Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Le Pen said France has been "susceptible very much to the United States' influence."
"The U.S. played an important role in the adoption of [the European Union's] sanctions against Russia," said the National Front party leader.
U.S. pressure on France also led to Russia's cancellation of the $1.5 billion contract for Mistral amphibious assault ships and French leaders' refusal to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow May 9, she suggested.
"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.'s position," she said.
Le Pen said she hoped "France will regain its freedom of expression and democratic freedom."
Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax
This ends our live blogging for May 26. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
Report on Russia's consular visit to detained Russian suspects:
Russia's consul in Kyiv has visited two suspected Russian soldiers who were captured in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Embassy spokesman Oleg Grishin said on May 27 that Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Aleksandr Aleksandrov "feel well."
The two men, who are being treated at a Kyiv hospital, have been charged with involvement in "terrorist activity."
In a video published on May 22, they repeated assertions that they were on active duty with the Russian military in eastern Ukraine when they were captured on May 16.
Moscow says Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov were no longer employed by the state when they were captured.
Russia denies accusations by Kyiv and the West that it is providing weapons, training, and personnel to rebels in eastern Ukraine who are involved in a conflict that has killed more than 6,100 people since April 2014. (TASS, Interfax)
Moscow has put an end to the long-delayed warship deal with France:
Russia says it is terminating a 1.4 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) deal for two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships from France.
In September 2014, French President Francois Hollande announced that the two warships would not be delivered due to Russia's "recent actions in Ukraine."
Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency quoted Oleg Bochkaryov, the deputy head of the Military-Industrial Commission, as saying on May 26, "Russia won't take them, that's an accomplished fact."
"Now there is only one discussion -- about the sum of money that should be returned to Russia," he added.
Bochkaryov said Russia planned to construct its own similar vessels, not copy the Mistral, adding that Moscow had a "slightly different ideology for the endeavor of amphibious assault."
Earlier this month, the Kremlin said France had made a formal proposal to scrap the deal. (TASS and dpa)