Under the new president, France's attitude towards Ukraine will worsen, and towards Russia it will improve
The majority of the French are in favor of normalizing relations with Russia and have no sympathy for Ukraine, therefore, no matter who becomes the new president of France, Paris' policy towards Moscow and Kyiv will change.
Ruslan Bortnik, director of the Ukrainian Institute of Policy Analysis and Management, stated this at a press conference in Kyiv, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
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“The French were disappointed in Hollande’s course towards Ukraine and Russia, in his actions within the framework of the Normandy Four and the Minsk agreements. The “two nights” that Hollande did not sleep while signing the Minsk agreements even exist today in the form of political jokes in the French political field.
In addition, the French as a whole, 60-70%, are against a visa-free regime for Ukraine - because this means additional migration risks. Also, for the most part, 50% or more, the French are in favor of restoring economic ties with Russia.
Russia is a huge market for France. The French would like to weaken or lift sanctions, detente relations between France and Russia, in order to simply get the opportunity to sell their cheeses, wines and other agricultural products on the Russian market.
This opinion exists in society. If you look at the current presidential elections, 2/3 of the electorate are in this niche. To one degree or another, these ideas are conveyed by all the key candidates for the presidency of France, with the possible exception of Macron. Although we know the price of this rhetoric from the example of Trump, in principle, whoever wins, even Macron, will be forced to turn Hollande’s page.
Attitudes towards Ukraine will change and, most likely, worsen,” says the Kiev expert.
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