Abstract: The article identifies and analyzes the views of modern French researchers on the relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The study of the works of French scientists makes it possible to analyze Russia's foreign policy not only in relation to its closest neighbor, the Republic of Belarus, but also in relation to the entire post-Soviet space.
The subject of the study is the relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in the late 1990s – early 2000s. The article is an attempt to fill the gap in French historiography and analyze the relations between the two former Soviet republics through the prism of French studies. The article also examines the assessments that French authors give to integration associations in the post-Soviet space, as well as to the interaction between the two states in the military and economic spheres. The study is relevant due to the fact that it is the first time the French works devoted to Russian-Belarusian relations in the post-Soviet period have been analysed.
Historical, narrative, and comparative-historical methods of historical research were used as the main methods.
The author comes to the conclusion that, according to the majority of French researchers, since the collapse of the USSR, relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus have been the strongest and most stable compared to other former Soviet republics, despite the obvious great dependence of Belarus on Russia. Moreover, the participation of both countries in the same integration associations and the creation of a common Union State not only speaks about the similar interests of both countries, but it further strengthens the relationship between them.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the goals of the Russian Federation therein. This article aims to fill the gap in French historiography and analyze the goals of the Russian Federation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization through the prism of French researchers. An overview is given to the assessment given by French authors to Russia’s goals in this organization at the stage of its foundation, establishment and development, as well as the overall goals of the Russian foreign policy in post-Soviet space and Central Asia. Special attention is given to the security and energy issues, as well as the growing influence of China and the United States in Central Asia. The relevance of this work is substantiated by the analysis of French research dedicated to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the goals of the Russian Federation therein, which is carried out for the first time. For article leans on the monographs and articles by the French historians, political scientists, and experts in the area of international relations dedicated to foreign policy of the Russian Federation in the early 1990s – late 2000s and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The conclusion is made that according to the majority of French researchers, the Russian Federation uses the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to strengthen its positions in Central Asia, as well as on the international arena.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the energy vector of Russia’s foreign policy in the European Union and in the post-Soviet space during the period of 1991-2010. This article represents an attempt to fill in the gap of French historiography and analyze the role of energy in Russia’s foreign policy through the prism of French researchers. This article explores the assessments of French authors regarding Russia’s energy policy in the European Union, as well as post-Soviet space. Special attention is given to the energy policy of the Russian Federation in the Caspian region.  Preference is given to a number of French monographs on foreign and energy policy of the Russian federation from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The relevance of this research is substantiated by the fact that for the first time French works are analyzed on the subject of energy vector of Russia’s foreign policy. The main conclusion of the conducted research consists in the fact that according to the opinion of majority of French researchers, Russian Federation uses energy as an instrument of its foreign policy, attempting to first return, and then strengthen its status as the energy state.