The way Europe has handled the crisis over Ukraine could become an issue in the European Parliament elections in May. Opinion polls suggest right-wing nationalist parties will perform well. French polls show the National Front emerging as the leading French party in the European elections.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Front, blamed the European Union for declaring a new Cold War on Russia that would hurt all concerned, Russian media reported on Saturday as she paid an official visit to Moscow.
Europe-Russia relations are at their lowest ebb in decades after President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea prompted the EU to impose sanctions on dozens of prominent Russian officials and lawmakers.
However Le Pen, along with other Eurosceptic leaders of the far left and nationalist right, believe the original fault lies with Brussels for offering closer ties with Ukraine, a move Russia opposes.
“I am surprised a Cold War on Russia has been declared in the European Union,” French National Front leader Le Pen said at a meeting with Sergei Naryshkin, speaker of the Russian parliament’s lower house.
“It’s not in line with traditional, friendly relations nor with the economic interests of our country or EU countries and harms future relations,” Russian news agency Interfax quoted her as saying in its Russian-language service.
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