Paris, Dec 19 (Bureau) French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Saturday that Western countries can politically isolate Russia if the situation around Ukraine escalates, but added that Paris does not want another Cold War scenario. When asked by Le Journal du Dimanche magazine about what measures West can take against Russia, Parly said some sanctions had already been imposed on Moscow, but they can be toughened. Russia can also be “politically isolated,” the minister added.
“We do not want to return to the Cold War,” Parly stressed, as quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, and added that to prevent this scenario, the sides should “stay calm.” Parly also noted that Paris is in favour of maintaining the dialogue with Moscow, which was initiated by the French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019.