'I Have the Impression That France Copies and Pastes US Foreign Policy'

"I am wondering whether France has its own foreign policy. I have an impression that we are merely an additional section in the US State Department and the French foreign policy is conducted by copying and pasting the belligerent US pattern," Mariani suggested.

Mariani further said that relations between Russia and France have never been as tense in the past two and a half decades as they are now. The politician also noted that this was a major departure from a tradition established by General Charles de Gaulle, the architect of France's Fifth Republic, which saw Paris serve as a bridge between the West and the Soviet bloc.

"I think that the American policy that we back and implement is leading us to a catastrophe," he lamented.

Valérie Boyer of the Republicans party maintained that Hollande decided not to meet Putin due to pressure from Washington.

"Hollande has looked to the US and he is not trying to understand what truly is in the interests of Europe or Russia. This has been a constant of French diplomacy since Hollande came to power. In this respect France has no autonomy," the politician said.

Boyer described Russia as a "friend and an ally" of France.

"France's attitude to Russia is shocking to me. Like Europe, France is not interested in its diplomatic relations with Russia being so tense," she added. "I find attempts aimed at reviving the Cold War between Russia and Europe stupid."

In an interview with Sputnik, French Senator Yves Pozzo di Borgo said that he was "very sorry" that President Vladimir Putin canceled his visit to France after Paris changed the trip program. "This is God knows what on the part of Hollande," he said.

The politician added that the Russian leader and his French counterpart Francois Hollande need to engage in a "discreet dialogue."

Both leaders "know each other and could discuss all the issues without Hollande putting on an act," he added.  I am deeply sorry that the visit has been canceled. This has caused additional unnecessary tensions. What we need is a dialogue with Russia so that we could find the ways to resolve the Syrian conflict."

Vladimir Putin was expected to visit France on October 19. While in Paris, the Russian president was scheduled to take part in the events linked to the opening of a Russian Orthodox cathedral and a cultural center. These events were later removed from the program forcing Putin to postpone the visit. However, the Russian president said that he was ready to meet with Hollande whenever it was convenient for the French leader.

Russia and France enjoy cordial relations that have hit a rough patch in recent years, with the Ukrainian and Syrian crises being the major points of contention. Most recently, both countries have sparred over the Syrian city of Aleppo which has become the focal point of the devastating conflict that has claimed more than 280,000 lives and left half of the country's population displaced.

On Saturday, Russia blocked a French draft for a UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire in Aleppo, saying that it would protect al-Nusra Front, a terrorist group fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. Other members of the UNSC rejected Moscow's alternative proposal for the embattled Syrian city. A day later Hollande questioned whether a meeting with Putin was "useful" and "necessary."