“European sanctions had two effects: a decrease in our trade, which is generally across Europe. This applies not only to France or Germany, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

As he noted at a meeting of the French Senate Commission on Foreign Affairs, statistics show that while the EU countries adhered to these restrictions, trade between Russia and the United States only grew, and the Russian-Chinese partnership was significantly strengthened.

“At the same time, if you look at the figures, trade between Russia and the United States, on the contrary, increased ... Secondly, we gave Russia the opportunity to develop agriculture as a result of these sanctions ... Third element: to some extent, we pushed Russia to China, which has become a priority partner, in particular, in the field of new technologies, ”said Wimon.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that anti-Russian sanctions did not bring either Europe or Russia anything positive, and noted the need for dialogue to resolve frozen conflicts.

In October 2019, the former Prime Minister of Italy, President of the International Cooperation Fund Romano Prodi, in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, stated that “the European economy is really suffering enormous damage” from anti-Russian sanctions and counter-sanctions.