Why Europe's Far Right Is Getting Cozy With Russia

As Western governments edge toward tougher sanctions on Russia, at least one group of European politicians has come to Moscow’s defense: leaders of the region’s far-right parties.

Marine Le Pen, head of France’s National Front, visited Moscow this month—her second trip there in less than a year—and lambasted the West for declaring a ruinous new “Cold War” on Russia. Her party also sent election observers who validated the results of the referendum in which Russia annexed Crimea. Geert Wilders, who heads the far-right Dutch Freedom Party, has accused the European Union of creating “a big mess” in Ukraine. And Nigel Farage, head of Britain’s UK Independence Party said in an April 1 interview that Vladimir Putin was the world leader he admired most.