OREANDA-NEWS  Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, said that French companies are in contact with Moscow. Therefore, there is a chance that Paris will help the reconciliation of Europe and Russia, according to RBC.

Dmitriev called France a possible bridge between Russia and Europe and stressed that Paris could play an important role in this process.

"By the way, many French companies are now making contact — we are helping a number of French businesses in Russia. Therefore, we hope that this French bridge, which also exists for French companies, will become a constructive force," he said.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin explained the crisis between Moscow and Europe. In his opinion, the rift began not because of the annexation of Crimea, but because of European support for the coup in Ukraine.