Marine Le Pen, a su vez, criticó a los rusos: "La política francesa se decidirá en París, no en Moscú"

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has hardened her stance toward Russia, stating that Moscow will not dictate France's policies. In a joint letter published on Saturday with Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally party, Le Pen condemned recent developments, including the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport aimed at an Ukrainian cargo plane. She emphasized that France would decide its foreign policy in Paris, not in Moscow. The letter was prompted by Russia’s recent decision to place Russian subsidiaries of several European companies, including the French retail chain Auchan, under compulsory management. Le Pen and Bardella also criticized what they described as hostile actions in Europe carried out by agents acting on behalf of Russia, which have increased over the past few weeks. Previously, Le Pen had been frequently criticized for not distancing herself enough from the Kremlin. She also faced criticism over a loan from a Czech-Russian bank in 2014. Now, the 58-year-old politician distances herself from Russia in the joint letter with Bardella. Le Pen and Bardella argue it is legitimate to discuss France’s diplomatic and strategic orientation, which should include debates on the extent of support for Ukraine and the conditions for such support. However, they consider external pressure illegitimate. They stated that no provocation, covert operation, or destabilization can lead France to ease Russia’s goals in Ukraine. Le Pen aims to become president in the upcoming spring elections. Current polls show her significantly ahead of other candidates, giving her a good chance to advance to the second round.