French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed support for the European Union’s decision to impose sanctions on Xenia Fedorova during a press conference at the United Nations in New York on September 23. The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the EU to counter disinformation spread by Russian entities. Fedorova, 45, is a former head of the Russian state media channel Russia Today (RT) and has been accused of spreading false information that undermines public order in France and weakens support for Ukraine. The EU’s move follows similar actions by France and Germany, as well as earlier sanctions against Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik. In late July, Fedorova was ordered to leave France, and her assets were frozen for six months. The government claims she has been a key figure in disinformation campaigns directed by Russian authorities. Barrot emphasized that the EU’s actions aim to counter efforts to "destabilize European public opinion, weaken support for Ukraine, and divide Europeans" at a time when unity is crucial. The decision to expel Fedorova came after the EU banned the broadcast of RT and Sputnik in August 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In mid-August, an administrative court rejected two preliminary challenges to her expulsion, focusing only on the urgency of the case. Her lawyer, Me Piwnica, filed appeals with the Council of State against these decisions and noted that Fedorova had been "fired" and now lacks a residence permit. Her former employers, Canal+ and Lagardère, did not comment on the situation at the time. Since her expulsion, Fedorova has continued to write opinion pieces for the French weekly JDNews. Her latest article suggests she can still work for media controlled by Vincent Bolloré, a French media mogul, without being an official employee. This development highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding the impact of sanctions on individuals involved in Russian media.