France, June 29 -- As France and the EU push for tighter sanctions on Moscow, the Kremlin insists only reasoned dialogue - not economic pressure - will bring Russia to the negotiating table.

The Kremlin has warned that the more severe the European sanctions on Russia become, the greater the economic blowback for Europe itself - as Russia claims it has become increasingly resilient to what it continues to describe as "illegal" measures.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been among the most vocal Western leaders urging tougher sanctions, suggesting they could compel Moscow to come to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine.

The European Commission echoed that stance earlier this month, unveiling a new round of proposed sanctions...