French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen wants to halt military and financial support for Ukraine should she come to power. She proposes convening a major peace conference and seeking a diplomatic resolution to the war. Her opponent, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, has described the refusal to provide aid to Kyiv as a move that benefits Russia.
Briefly about the main points
- Le Pen wants to halt military and financial aid to Kyiv should she come to power.
- She proposes convening a major peace conference.
- Philipp described the withdrawal of support for Ukraine as serving Russia’s interests.
- The former prime minister linked Ukraine’s strength to the security of France and Europe.
- Le Pen recalled Putin’s visits to Versailles and the Fort de Brégançon.
Le Pen proposes a conference on peace and an end to support
Le Pen stated that, from the outset of the Russian aggression, she had called for France to convene a «major peace conference». According to her, the aim should not be to prolong the bloodshed, but to bring about a diplomatic settlement to «this horrific war».
She wants to put a stop to further military and financial aid to Ukraine should she come to power.
In response to the criticism, Philippe Le Pen accused him of a disastrous record as Prime Minister. She also pointed out that during his term in office Vladimir Putin were received at the Palace of Versailles and at the Fortress of Brégançon.
Philipp described the weakening of Ukraine as a risk to Europe
Édouard Philippe He criticised his rival’s stance, stating that withdrawing support for Ukraine «means serving Russia». He promised to do everything in his power to prevent Ukraine from being weakened, which, in his view, poses a threat to the security of France and Europe.
Philipp emphasised that, following the outbreak of a full-scale war, there is «an aggressor dictator and a democracy that has been subjected to aggression». He described any attempt to place them on an equal footing as «criminal weakness».
Current French policy differs markedly from the course proposed by Le Pen: Paris has announced that it will continue military support for Ukraine and links it to European security.
