The National Front claims that Ukraine has been subjugated by the United States, through the Ukrainian Crisis, and opposes anti-Russian sentiment in Eastern Europe and the perceived adherence of Western Europe to NATO's interests in the region. Marine Le Pen is strongly critical of the threats of sanctions directed by the international community against Russia, saying that European countries "should seek a solution through diplomacy rather than making threats that could lead to an escalation." She claims that the United States is leading a new Cold War against Russia, and as commented that she sees the only possible solution for peace in Ukraine to be a kind of federation that would allow each region to have a large degree of autonomy. She also said that Ukraine should be as sovereign and free as any other nations. According to Russian media, Le Pen has promised to recognize the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea if she is elected President of France. On 3 January 2017 she told BFM TV "I do not believe that there was an illegal annexation: there was a referendum, the citizens of Crimea wanted to join Russia."