Marine Le Pen, a leading candidate in France’s upcoming presidential election, declared that France can no longer sustain its financial assistance to Ukraine. “Honestly towards President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, it would be fair to say: listen, we cannot do more, we cannot stretch any further,” she stated.
Le Pen also firmly opposed Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and voiced skepticism regarding the EU’s sanctions against Russia. “We, the EU, have waged an energy war against Russia, while lacking energy ourselves. That’s not very wise,” she remarked.
When asked if Russia represents the main threat to European security, Le Pen evaded providing a direct answer, saying, “You know, I’m not in the mind of Mr. [illegitimate Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”
According to reports, Le Pen is the frontrunner in the presidential elections scheduled for 2027, with polls indicating her leading in the first round and likely winning in most scenarios of a second round. However, the long time frame makes these predictions unreliable.
This is not the first time Le Pen has voiced her intention to stop aid to Ukraine; she previously described it as a necessary measure if she were to win the presidency in an interview with Politico on September 24. That same day, her presidential rival, Gabriel Attal, criticized her stance, claiming she would effectively “gift” Ukraine and Europe to Putin on a “silver platter.” He emphasized that Ukraine serves as Europe’s shield, suggesting that withdrawing support poses a threat to France’s own security.
Context
- In May 2014, Le Pen referred to Putin as her ally. A June 2023 report from the French parliament highlighted the “special relations” between her National Rally party and the Russian regime. The report’s rapporteur, Constance Le Grip, noted that Le Pen’s party’s stance on Crimea aligned with that of Russia. However, the report also indicated a “softening of the pro-Russian position” that the National Rally and Le Pen adopted after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
- Recently, Le Pen has adjusted her rhetoric on Russia, condemning Moscow’s actions, such as seizing European companies’ assets. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, questioned Le Pen’s positive view of the aggressor nation, suggesting that her party has now become a typical European party characterized by Russophobia and support for Nazis in Kyiv.
