France says 'time has come' to ease tensions with Russia French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says there is a "window of opportunity" for resolving the Ukraine conflict after a landmark prisoner exchange, but that it is too soon to talk of lifting sanctions on Russia. Le Drian and Defence Minister Florence Parly held the first meeting in the so-called "2+2" format suspended after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES