The European Union should help countries stand up to Vladimir Putin by sending a clear message about their prospects for joining the EU, French Europe Minister Laurence Boone told POLITICO.

“The EU is preparing for a potential wave of expansion that could bring as many as eight new members, including Ukraine and six Balkan countries, into the fold in the years to come. Several of these countries are prime targets for Russian influence campaigns that aim to weaken support for the EU and keep them out of the bloc - which is why the EU needs to be “clear and balanced” about what’s required for them to join, Boone said.

“There is a lot of disinformation and interference in these [candidate] countries. It’s an issue”, she told POLITICO on the phone from Paris. “Vladimir Putin, in addition to his territorial ambitions, also aims to weaken the European Union. That’s a factor we need to take into account and fight against”.

She added that the EU needs to “help these countries to fight against the [Russian] influence strategy as much as possible, while respecting their sovereignty”.

Boone’s comments come a week before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives her annual State of the European Union speech, in which she is expected to provide details on pace and method for the EU’s planned expansion.