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Following a series of questions about Le Pen’s relationship with Vladimir Putin and Russia’s role in the world, Ms Maitlis asked whether France would defend the Baltic states or the Ukraine against a theoretical invasion from the former Soviet nation. Le Pen raged: “You want war at all costs! What is your problem? You want to go to war! Do you like war? You want conflicts - you want us to start World War Three!

BBC Marine Le Pen claims 'no one wants to go to war'

If you’re trying to say that Russia is a military danger to European countries, I think you’re mistaken in your analysis Marine Le Pen

“At the moment no one wants to go to war with anyone. “I’m happy to go into all the hypotheses, but no one is going to war with anyone - no one wants to go to war with anyone else. “There was a territorial conflict with Ukraine - these things happen.

BBC Le Pen spoke to Emily Maitlis with just weeks to go until the first round of the French election

“Now it has to be resolved diplomatically, and I think France’s voice has weight as long as France is France, not a region of the EU. “Honestly, if you’re trying to say that Russia is a military danger to European countries, I think you’re mistaken in your analysis.”

Live pictures: Marine Le Pen meets Putin on visit to Moscow Fri, March 24, 2017 Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 4 Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with French presidential election candidate Marine Le Pen

The Front National leader met with Putin for the first time in Moscow last week after repeatedly praising the Russian leader for his policies. She reiterated her support for the populist policies of Putin and Trump, saying: “There’s Russia, which doesn’t deserve to be treated with prejudice. It hasn’t led any campaigns against European countries, or the US. “What I notice is that Putin’s government must be pretty popular with Russians, given that it is constantly being reelected.”

GETTY Le Pen is among the frontrunners as French voters prepare to choose a new president

She described herself as the “anti-Merkel” and condemned the German chancellor’s economic, monetary and migrant policies. Le Pen added: “She’s increasingly isolated, because the policies I represent are the policies represented by Mr Trump and Mr Putin, and the British people made it clear they want to go in that direction.