Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview Thursday, stressed his country has a "win-win" defence cooperation with France, after Marine Le Pen said she would cut aid to Kyiv if elected French president.
Ukraine's experience with battlefield technology "is very important for the partners -- UK, United States, France are among these partners", Zelensky told The Financial Times, adding: "Madame Le Pen is not deeply (familiar) with some details."
Of the defence tie-up with France, Zelensky said: "I think to my mind that it's win-win".
Far-right leader Le Pen said on Wednesday that Paris would cut financial aid to Ukraine if she wins France's presidential elections next year, when current President Emmanuel Macron's final term ends. Surveys put her as the frontrunner ahead of the polls in April and May.
"For six months we would maintain the aid ... but after that, financial aid would halt because we don't have the money," Le Pen told Belgian television network VRT.
France is one of the strongest military supporters of Ukraine as it fights back against Russia's invasion launched in 2022, and backs EU financial aid to Kyiv.
Ukraine notably uses Franco-Italian SAMP/T surface-to-air missiles, which it has modified for its air defence, and Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP long-range cruise missiles.
Zelensky stressed in his Financial Times interview that Ukraine's use on the battlefield of French military systems, as well as the adaptations brought to them, and its experience in drone warfare gave France valuable real-world feedback.
According to the Kiel Institute, a German think tank tracking aid to Ukraine, France has contributed €27 billion to Kyiv since the start of Russia's all-out invasion.
That amount comprises €7.9 billion in bilateral aid and €19 billion through EU channels.