This article discusses opinions of the leaders of the French military mission about such important events of 1917-1918 in Russia as the Decree on Peace, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, cooperation with the Soviet government, and 'the national question'. This research is based on the analysis of documents provided by the Defence Historical Service of France and the archive of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authors show that the Third Republic was incapable of turning the Eastern Front against the Central Powers and of cooperating efficiently with the new Russian government since the relationships between Russia and France were tainted by the mistrust towards the Bolsheviks and the generally uncertain political situation in Russia.