"So on this particular issue today, we could think that the speech was made, as far as Russia and Turkey is concerned is a good one, but again, the problem is that he is not going to follow through with what he says… I think [European countries] already know that President Macron says something but does not do what he says, as far as foreign relations are concerned," Lempereur said.
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He stated that any future strategic partnership with Russia that France would consider should start with the removal of EU sanctions on Russia.
"A strategic partnership should be done on economic and safety issues notably, but again for Russia, the first step for [a strategic partnership] should be to remove the sanctions," Lempereur said.
Macron previously expressed his desire to work on joint initiatives with Russia during his first state visit to the country in May, where a series of agreements on nuclear energy, Arctic development and finance were announced.