Marine Le Pen Could Push to End French Military and Financial Aid to Ukraine If Elected

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally, indicated that if she wins the French presidency she may push to end French military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Speaking about her vision for ending the war, she called for convening a large international peace conference and pursuing a diplomatic settlement rather than continued arms deliveries.

The far-right leader’s stance drew immediate criticism from Édouard Philippe, her rival in the presidential race. Philippe said that stopping support for Kyiv would mean "serving Russia." He argued that weakening Ukraine would pose a direct threat to the security of France and the whole of Europe.

The exchange highlights a deepening foreign-policy divide among French presidential hopefuls ahead of the next election. Philippe has aligned himself with the current pro-Ukraine consensus in Paris and Brussels, while Le Pen has long questioned sanctions and military aid, casting direct negotiations as the only sustainable route to peace.