French companies are interested in the Russian market.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says that sanctions against Russia can be lifted "at any time."

He announced this after talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Le Havre, France, according to UNIAN's Russia-based correspondent.

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"We know that sanctions are not a permanent regime, this is a stage that can be canceled at any time. We know why these sanctions were imposed. I think Russia knows," Philippe said.

He stressed that French enterprises are interested in the Russian market, and businesses from France rank first among foreign employers in Russia.

According to Philippe, despite the sanctions, economic relations between the two countries "continue to exist."