Hollande calls on uncovering Russia’s “ideological operations”

Hollande said Moscow was seeking to affirm itself as a global power while “testing our resistance”, the Guardian reports. He said Russia was “using every means to influence public opinion,” including by using new technology.

He said both he and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, continued to talk to Vladimir Putin “but to talk is not to give in”. He added: “If Europe is strong and united, Russia will want to keep a lasting and balanced relationship [with us].”

Amid the backdrop of fears in Europe of Russian interference or influence in election campaigns, Hollande said: “As for ideological operations, they must be uncovered.

There has to be a clear explanation of who is with who, who is financed by who. And why all these far-right movements are more or less linked to Russia.”