OREANDA-NEWS. The desire of French President Emmanuel Macron to conduct an independent dialogue with Russia is likely to be criticized by the authorities of Sweden, Poland and the Baltic countries, Arnaud Dubien, head of the Franco-Russian Analytical Center Observo, expert of the Valdai Club, believes. He also recalled that Paris and Washington have different interests in relation to Moscow, writes Lenta.ru.

This is the main contradiction of Macron's eastern policy: on the one hand, he does not think of France's policy outside the EU, and on the other hand, his constructive approach towards Moscow "dies", sometimes comes to naught, in the search for consensus with EU countries that are hostile to in relation to Russia,” Dubien explained.

On January 19, Macron, during his speech in the European Parliament, said that the EU countries need to conduct an independent dialogue with Russia. He believes that Moscow and Brussels should discuss issues of collective security and arms control without the mediation of Washington.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Earlier, the President of the Russian Federation said that he was aware of the decision of the State Duma on the project of recognizing the DPR and LPR, and said that the problems of Donbass should be resolved by the Minsk agreements.