Kremlin Expects Consensus on Need for Dialogue With Russia to Prevail in France

The Kremlin expects that consensus on there being no alternative to building dialogue with Russia will prevail in France’s political establishment, rapprochement with Russia does not mean undermining of sovereignty, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – He stressed that French presidential candidates who spoke of the need to establish dialogue with Russia appealed more to Moscow.

"We expect that there is a consensus in one way or another among France’s political establishment that building a dialogue with Moscow is a concept to which there is no alternative to resolve the existing issues," Peskov told reporters.

"Rapprochement with Moscow never meant undermining of foundations of independence and sovereignty, so Moscow calls for mutual respect, for respect of mutual interests and for respect of mutual sovereignty and independence in establishment of bilateral relations," Peskov said.

France saw five main presidential candidates clash in Monday night's televised debate.

Thus, the Kremlin commented on the statement by French presidential candidate Macron, who said France did not need to get closer to Russia after a history of "building peace" alongside the United States and called for more independence.

While Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen have called for a constructive dialogue with Russia during their election campaign, Emmanuel Macron said that France shouldn't reconcile with Moscow.