French aid to Ukraine has become an issue in the 2027 presidential campaign. Marine Le Pen, who says she will end it if she reaches the Élysée Palace, has said she is ready to debate the question directly with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking on CNews on Thursday, Marine Le Pen said she was prepared to travel to Ukraine to discuss the issue with the Ukrainian president: "We could perfectly well debate this issue whenever he wishes," she said. "
If Mr Zelenskyy would like us to talk, I will gladly come to Ukraine. But what I want to tell him is that we no longer have the financial means to provide assistance," she added.
"I have nothing, personally, against Zelenskyy," she added.
Earlier, on Wednesday, speaking to Flemish television VRT News, the far-right candidate condemned the cost of French support for Ukraine, which she puts at €6 billion a year.
That figure roughly corresponds to the average annual level of French aid to Ukraine since February 2022, including bilateral support and contributions to European mechanisms.
"From my election, for six months we will maintain the aid...so as not to force anyone's hand. But afterwards we will stop financial assistance to Ukraine because we no longer have the means to do so," she said.
The Ukrainian president responded to her comments, saying that "Madame Le Pen does not fully grasp certain details" of Franco-Ukrainian military cooperation.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine also contributes to France's defence
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, Zelenskyy defended the benefits of military cooperation between France and Ukraine, particularly in the field of weapons technology.
France "can only gain" from this partnership, he insisted. "We give something back," he stressed.
Zelenskyy notably pointed out that the experience gained by his army on the battlefield allows France to test and improve its equipment in real combat conditions.
He cited the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defence systems, which have been modified several times to adapt to realities on the ground, as well as the Franco-British Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles. A "win-win" partnership, according to the Ukrainian leader.
Emmanuel Macron reiterates France's support
Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France's support for Ukraine on Thursday, after talks with Zelenskyy in Brussels.
In the face of intensifying Russian attacks, the French president said it was "vital" to provide Kyiv with "all the means necessary" to defend itself and protect its population and infrastructure, stressing that "France will continue to shoulder its responsibilities".
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot also responded to Marine Le Pen's statements, arguing that ending French aid to Ukraine would be "the surest way of bringing the war closer to our borders."
Outcry from Marine Le Pen's opponents
Gabriel Attal, the Renaissance candidate for the presidency, also criticised Le Pen's position on Franceinfo, accusing her of wanting to "let Ukrainians be butchered."
"Supporting Ukraine is not a humanitarian operation to make ourselves feel good, it is our own defence," the former prime minister insisted.
MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, winner of the social-democratic primary, likewise denounced a "capitulation" and "submission" to Vladimir Putin.
"If we cut aid to Ukraine, that means subjecting the whole of Europe to Vladimir Putin," the centre-left presidential candidate said on France 5, arguing that Le Pen should "absolutely not take power."
Horizons candidate Édouard Philippe described Marine Le Pen's comments as a "betrayal" in a message on X.
"To say that France will stop helping Ukraine at the end of 2027 is to weaken it even further at a time when, more than ever, we need to close ranks around it," he wrote.
Marine Le Pen's comments have also stirred reactions beyond her rivals in the race for the Élysée.
Liberal lawyer Charles Consigny, a commentator on RMC's Les Grandes Gueules and former Les Républicains candidate in the 2022 legislative elections, believes Le Pen's position serves Vladimir Putin's interests.
"Putin is eagerly awaiting Marine Le Pen's victory," he argued in a post on X.
Within the National Rally camp, MP Laure Lavalette has defended ending French financial support for Kyiv.
"We can no longer help Ukraine. The coffers are empty," she said on RMC, before admitting that she did not know the amount of France's contribution.
Germany, Europe's leading contributor to aid for Ukraine
According to figures from the German research centre, the Kiel Institute, France has committed a total of €27 billion to supporting Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, including €7.9 billion in bilateral aid and €19 billion via European mechanisms.
In absolute terms, Germany remains Europe's biggest contributor to aid for Ukraine, with more than €50 billion pledged since February 2022, ahead of France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Relative to GDP, however, bilateral aid is highest in Denmark and Estonia.