Russia, France: Moscow's Motives for Warming Relations

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Nov. 26-27 for the 14th meeting of the Russo-French Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. Russia sees France as the continental European power it has the least leverage over, and is hoping to use business and military deals to increase its influence in Paris. Doing so would help Russia push back against the United States in its periphery and help drive a wedge between Washington and its European allies.