Kremlin Claims Russia Poses No Threat Following Warnings From France's Le Pen and Bardella

The Kremlin has dismissed recent warnings issued by French far-right figures Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, asserting that Russia poses "no threat" to France or any other European country. According to reports, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters on Monday to refute claims of Russian aggression and destabilization efforts in Europe.

Peskov's remarks came in direct response to a joint statement released over the weekend by Le Pen and Bardella, leaders of France's National Rally party. In their statement, the two politicians declared that they would never tolerate any foreign power attempting to dictate French policies through intimidation, threats, destabilization, or psychological pressure, whether directly or indirectly.

In his counter-statement, Peskov maintained that Russia was neither threatening nor blackmailing France or any other European state. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated this on numerous occasions and emphasized that Moscow has no fundamental disputes with European nations that could warrant serious disagreements.

The diplomatic exchange follows a tense period between Paris and Moscow, highlighted by recent moves by Russian authorities to seize the local assets and businesses of several international corporations, including French retailer Auchan and Swiss food giant Nestlé. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned these actions, labeling the placement of French subsidiaries under temporary administration as unjustified.

The economic friction also follows a crisis meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. Macron brought together political party leaders from across the spectrum, including Jordan Bardella, to brief them on pressing national issues, specifically warning about potential security threats emanating from Russia. Macron highlighted expanding shadow operations across Europe and stated that he had ordered measures to safeguard France's critical infrastructure against Russian hybrid attacks.

In their weekend statement, Le Pen and Bardella explicitly pointed to growing concerns, referencing a recent drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany that German authorities have attributed to Russia. They warned that Moscow's actions target French economic interests and companies within the defense industry, adding that intelligence reports suggest Russia could further escalate tensions with nations supporting Ukraine.

Despite their sharp rhetoric against Moscow, observers note that the National Rally's current stance contrasts with a history of past leniency toward the Kremlin. In 2011, Le Pen expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin to a certain extent and advocated for closer ties with Moscow. She also defended Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, citing a referendum held under Russian occupation. Furthermore, the party—then known as the National Front—secured a controversial €9.4 million loan from a Russian bank in 2014 to fund election campaigns after traditional French banks declined to finance them. The National Rally confirmed that the loan was fully repaid by September 2023.

Even while criticizing foreign pressure in their recent statement, Le Pen and Bardella maintained that questions regarding financial support for Ukraine remain legitimate. The clarification followed comments by National Rally Vice-President and Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot, who suggested he would cut off funding for weapons to prioritize domestic economic needs. Bardella subsequently clarified that the party's platform does not advocate abandoning Ukraine entirely, though he argued that open-ended financial and military aid is not a viable long-term solution.

The diplomatic tensions coincide with political developments inside Russia, where authorities announced that the pro-Putin United Russia party secured a record supermajority in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. Following three days of tightly controlled voting that excluded opposition parties critical of the Kremlin and the war in Ukraine, preliminary results indicate United Russia is set to claim 355 out of 450 seats.

France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the election results by acknowledging the expected outcome while expressing deep regret that conditions for a free, pluralistic, and democratic vote were absent. The ministry also registered its disappointment that Russia chose not to invite election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to monitor the electoral process.