Now the West is under a shock. It is investing substantial money in the change of power in Russia, in the change of policy. And they were sure that it happens amid the fact that in 2024, Putin would certainly not be in the presidential chair anymore. Now, this means that they are forced to start the war earlier. With all the insects [Russian opposition] that they have, with the options of imposing sanctions, with twitching of neighbours along the borders. We are wrestling for life or death for many years, they want to destroy us.
Summary
France like other European countries is waging an economic war against Russia because of the problems of Ukraine. But sooner or later the majority will see that it does nothing, neither for the European Union nor for entrepreneurs. The European Union loses 450 billion euros every year because of anti-Russian measures that have been brought by the Americans in European politics.
Disproof
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about economic difficulties in EU countries resulting from the sanctions policy against Russia. There is a cost associated with sanctions and counter-sanctions that is often overestimated as it can include protectionist measures Russia took even before the war in Ukraine. In this case, the figure is totally unrealistic. For example, a study by Matthieu Crozet (Lingnan University) and Julian Hinz (Kiel Institute for the World Economy) published in Economic Policy in 2018 estimated the total loss of earnings of 1.5 billion euro a month so 18 billion a year: 25 times less. Another study commissioned by the Bank of Finland shows that the "sanctions regime proved effective in restricting access of Russian banks to capital", and that the "macroeconomic effects of Russia’s counter-sanctions on the EU have been marginal, [although] the food sector in some EU countries has been affected."
The narrative that the US imposed those sanctions to the EU is another unfounded claim that the US controls the policies of the European Union. All EU countries are independent states whose policies are not regulated externally by any other country.