Le Pen vows to halt French financial aid to Ukraine if elected, drawing sharp criticism
Marine Le Pen, frontrunner for France's 2027 presidential election, said at the Playbook Paris Live summit that France can no longer financially help Ukraine given the state of the French budget, though she would continue training Ukrainian troops and providing limited material aid. Former French prime minister Gabriel Attal accused her of sacrificing France's and Europe's security and handing Ukraine and Europe to Vladimir Putin.
Key points
- Le Pen said France 'can no longer financially help Ukraine,' citing the state of the French budget.
- She would keep training Ukrainian military personnel and providing some material aid to Kyiv.
- She also wants France to use diplomacy to seek peace and regrets Paris is on the sidelines of negotiations.
- Le Pen leads French polls ahead of the spring 2027 presidential election, which will choose Emmanuel Macron's successor.
- Former prime minister and Renaissance candidate Gabriel Attal wrote on X that Le Pen's program would sacrifice security and hand Ukraine and Europe to Putin.
- Attal wrote that 'Ukraine is our shield' and that 'Russia is waiting for you,' meaning a Le Pen victory.
- The leader of Renew Europe said Le Pen's call to stop aid shows 'incompetence or submission to the Kremlin.'
Why it matters
Le Pen is the frontrunner for the 2027 French presidential election, so her stated intention to halt financial aid to Ukraine could materially affect European support for Kyiv if she wins. Her position reframes France's role from financial backer to a diplomatic mediator and limited trainer and material supplier, signaling a possible shift in French policy. The public clash with Attal frames the 2027 election as a referendum on continued support for Ukraine versus closer alignment with Russia.
What happened
Speaking at the Playbook Paris Live summit on Thursday, as reported by Politico, Marine Le Pen said France can no longer financially help Ukraine, citing the state of the French budget. She indicated she would not abandon Kyiv entirely and is willing to continue training Ukrainian military personnel and providing some material assistance. Le Pen added that France should pursue peace through diplomacy and expressed regret that Paris is currently on the sidelines of negotiations. She also said France should not fight Russia because it is a nuclear power, and she does not agree that France is already in conflict with Moscow. She wants to withdraw France from NATO's integrated military command, but not while the war continues near Europe. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, the Renaissance party's presidential candidate, responded on X, accusing Le Pen of sacrificing France's and Europe's security and handing Ukraine and Europe to Putin. He wrote that Ukraine is a shield for France and that Russia is waiting for Le Pen to win. The leader of Renew Europe said Le Pen's call to end aid to Ukraine demonstrates her incompetence or submission to the Kremlin.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All supplied articles are from Ukrainian-language media and uniformly frame Le Pen's statement as a threat to Ukraine and to European security. Headlines and ledes foreground the reaction of French and European political opponents, including Attal and the Renew Europe leader, rather than any nuance in Le Pen's remarks. Coverage emphasizes the 'Russia is waiting for you' framing, the idea that Moscow would benefit from a Le Pen election, and stresses that abandoning Ukraine would endanger France itself.
Where reporting differs
One outlet places the date of Le Pen's call to stop financial aid to Ukraine on September 17, while other coverage specifies only that the statement was made 'on Thursday' at the Playbook Paris Live summit without giving a specific date.
Background
A Paris appeals court ruling on July 7 upheld Le Pen's conviction in the EU Parliament funds misuse case but reduced her ban on running for office, clearing the way for her 2027 candidacy. Le Pen and National Rally president Jordan Bardella have previously condemned Russia's hostile actions and signaled they would not leave NATO's integrated command while the war continues near Europe. If Le Pen wins the 2027 election, she has said 31-year-old Bardella would head the government.