French The Republicans’ party presidential nominee Francois Fillon vowed on Thursday to make efforts to lift anti-Russia sanctions if he is elected the country’s president, adding that the restrictive measures turned to be rather counterproductive for the French.
The first round of the French presidential election is slated for April 23, while the run-off is expected to take place on May 7. According to a recent Elabe poll conducted for BFMTV and L’Express, Fillon is projected to come third in the first round of the election with 19 percent of votes, staying behind far-right National Front (FN) party leader Marine Le Pen and independent candidate Emmanuel Macron, both of whom are set to receive 23.5 percent of votes.
“I’ll do anything to lift sanctions against Russia, which led to nothing but to the ruin of the French farmers,” Fillon was quoted as saying by his team on Twitter.
Fillon pointed out that in case he won the presidential race, he would ensure maintaining dialogue with Russia, Iran, Turkey and the United States.
“Confrontation with Russia is pointless. I seek a dialogue between us,” the presidential hopeful said, referring to the disagreements between the West and Russia on settlement in Syria.