"We need to talk to Russia, but the dialogue should be frank," Alain Juppe told French daily Ouest-France, mentioning the issue of Crimea and Syria where, in his opinion, Fillon is too soft about Russia's position and is showing "an excessive complacency toward Mr. Putin."
While Juppe considers that "there will be no return to peace in Syria with Bashar Assad," Fillon said many times during his election campaign that there is "no choice but to turn to the Russians and the Syrian regime to eradicate the forces of the Islamic State."
3-Unlike Juppé, #Fillion's position vis-a-vis Syria & Russia is clear: favors relations w/ Putin & keeping Assad. He's no a populist though
— Tahar (@laseptiemewilay) 20 ноября 2016 г.
Fillon has also often reiterated that Moscow was not "the only trouble" in the Ukrainian crisis.
On Sunday, Fillon and Juppe, who both used to serve as French prime ministers, emerged as the winners of the first round of The Republicans primaries with the former securing 44 percent of center-right voters while the latter, long thought to be the front runner, ended with just 28 percent.
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy finished with the third result and thus was eliminated from the race. Sarkozy has already endorsed Fillon, who served in his government in 2007-2012.
Two other out of seven contenders — Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet and Jean-Francois Cope — endorsed Juppe on Tuesday evening at the meeting in Toulose.
The second and final round of The Republicans primaries is set for Sunday, November 27.
