The Russian authorities are actively using the upcoming presidential elections in France and legal disputes over frozen assets to conduct an information war aimed at splitting the European Union and ending support for Ukraine. The main instruments of this strategy are local pro-Kremlin populists.
A clear example is the reaction of the leader of the French far-right movement “The Patriots,” Florian Philippot, to the lawsuit filed by the Central Bank of Russia against the Belgian depository Euroclear. His enthusiastic statements clearly demonstrate how certain politicians within Europe voluntarily become amplifiers of Kremlin propaganda, according to the Robert Lansing Institute.
The French politician claims that this move will paralyze the EU and force European governments to compensate losses using taxpayers’ money, ultimately compelling them to stop supporting Kyiv.
However, in legal reality, this lawsuit has no effect outside Russia, as Euroclear operates strictly under Belgian jurisdiction and within EU sanctions mechanisms. Thus, the court action is merely a propaganda and psychological pressure tool. Moscow’s goal is not to win in court, but to create panic, divide European governments, and reduce public willingness to support Ukraine in the long term. In this context, Philippot becomes a convenient transmitter of Kremlin narratives, translating them into language focused on domestic economic fears for local voters.
This activity is directly linked to the beginning of the French presidential campaign of 2027, in which Philippot officially announced his participation in May 2026. Following Emmanuel Macron’s departure, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, the French political landscape has become highly fragmented. Amid fierce competition among far-right forces — Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, and Éric Zemmour — Philippot is attempting to occupy the most radical niche. He deliberately positions himself as the most anti-European, anti-NATO, and openly pro-Russian candidate, hoping to attract protest voters tired of war and inflation.
The electoral base of Philippot and his “Patriots” movement remains limited and marginal. The party lacks strong regional infrastructure, and its supporters consist of scattered groups of anti-globalists, eurosceptics, and radical nationalists concentrated mainly in economically struggling, deindustrialized provinces. However, in today’s media environment, influence is not measured solely by votes. Philippot has strong digital reach and actively shapes online discourse.
For the Kremlin, such marginal politicians are valuable even without major electoral success. Russian state media regularly amplify Philippot’s statements, creating the illusion of a broad European opposition and legitimizing its own propaganda narratives. Due to sanctions and diplomatic isolation, Moscow is increasingly shifting from direct economic pressure to hybrid methods of warfare, analysts note. Supporting anti-system actors within the EU allows Russia to radicalize public debate, weaken democratic consensus, and effectively undermine European unity from within.
