US should pay France for loss due to sanctions on Russia: French Prez candidate Le Pen

United States must compensate France for loss of Russian gas if European Union (EU) imposes sanctions on Russian energy imports, said French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.

Noting Washington's pressure on EU to slash Russian oil and energy imports, Le Pen in an interview asserted that Americans who earn "solid profits" by selling liquified gas "could transfer money to France", RT news quoted. Pen also warned that anti-Russian sanctions on gas and energy will see an "unbearable" rise in alrey-high fuel prices, for which US fuel magnates care "very little" about. 

Notably, French presidential candidate Le Pen is an avid supporter of sanctions against Russia, except embargo on oil and gas. "I am perfectly in favour of all or sanctions...I don't want French people to suffer consequences of sanctions," Le Pen h said in an interview with France Inter Rio.

It is pertinent to mention that far-right politician won highest number of votes after first round of counting. Le Pen faces French President Emmanuel Macron in presential elections. second round of  French Presidential election is set to be held on April 24.

In first round of voting for next French President, Marine Le Pen and two or parties toger received 32% of vote, while Macron won 27.8% votes, according to AP. 

Amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Le Pen has been criticised by her rivals for "being too close" to Russia, as reported by BBC. She h supported Moscow's move to annex Crimea in 2014. Her political party is also said to have received a loan in same year from a Russian bank with ties to Kremlin. Later in 2017, she called for scrapping international sanctions in relation to same. 

Le Pen vows to remove Paris from NATO command structure

Marine Le Pen on April 13 vowed that she will remove France from command structure of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) if she wins presidential elections. presidential candidate, however, clarified that she will not leave bloc, inste just move out of its command hierarchy given that US les integrated command.

She also stressed that re should be "strategic reapprochement" between intergovernmental military bloc and Russia once Moscow-Kyiv war is over.

(Image: AP)