Le Pen vows to keep Russia close to prevent an alliance with China

Not a bad idea. If Russia and China get close goodbye western world.

Doesn't she have to win first?

How does she propose to prevent an alliance between Russia and China? Give Putin everything he might otherwise have gotten from China? This seems naïve; she's probably just following her usual authoritarian bent.

What about those pesky nuclear weapons?

Russia will have to be economically destroyed to bring them to the brink of getting rid of their nuclear weapons.

That's not a workable plan and I would be surprised if large numbers of French people are itching for a closer relationship with Putin. She has no real ideas.

By getting close, does that mean on her back, legs to the sky, no rubbers?

Sure Jan...

What's the alternative to this? Bellicosity isn't going to frighten Putin when he knows that the West is not going to go to war on this. Western leaders have enough to do getting their citizens to put up with the economic implications of the war in Ukraine. This will not end in status quo ante anyway because the status quo ante had been, in any case, one of Russian incursion on sovereign Ukrainian territory since 2014.

Wow, Imagine, a mere Woman knowing the ancient wisdom of Sun Zhu. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" is an ancient proverb. It goes back thousands of years to the philosopher Sun Zhu. But today, most people know it from The GodFather. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" just means that you need to keep on top of what your enemies are doing.

R9, she blamed the West for Russia’s aggression and downplayed them invading Ukraine. She’s dumb as a box of rusty nails and has taken money from them.

R 9 here, Sorry hit enter before I finished my post.

As a Slav which most Russians are, I can tell you we have certain weak points. One is being treated politely which is part of our culture. Remember no matter how poor you are, as a slav if you have a guest you offer them 'bread & salt' when they come to your home.

It was said the greatest mistake ever made in American politics was to not allow Khrushchev to Disney Land. Very, very rude. We are a touchy lot. Putin is a Slav. The French have a long history with us. If anyone might know how to finesse Putin it will be the French.

Hey, R11, you're right! I'm a Slav, and Putin welcomed me back to Mother Russia with a piping hot cup of tea!