President Francois Hollande's senseless policies towards Russia have caused the current crisis, former French minister and current member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party Nadine Morano said.
"Due to the Russian food embargo, the EU has already lost €21 billion since the beginning of the embargo, and could lose up to €81 billion over time. For the French agricultural sector, the food embargo has been dramatic, and we can all see the direct effects of the government's international policy," Morano told Sud Radio.
The United States, the European Union and a number of their allies have introduced several rounds of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy, defense and banking sectors, as well as particular individuals due to Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the internal conflict in eastern Ukraine and stated the sanctions approach is counterproductive.
Nevertheless, the Western powers extended the sanctions against Russia in June 2015 for additional six months.
The Minsk agreements provide a number of measures to facilitate the Ukrainian peace process, elaborated by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine in February 2015. The deal includes provisions on ceasefire between the Kiev forces and Donbas independence fighters.
