Could France cut Ukraine aid? Presidential hopefuls clash publicly
Marine Le Pen (photo: Getty Images)
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is determined to cut off aid to Ukraine if she wins the election. But her main rival, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, has vowed to do everything in his power to prevent this.
The public clash between the French politicians erupted after comments by Louis Aliot, vice president of the National Rally party.
He said Le Pen wants to "turn off the tap" on financial and military aid to Ukraine.
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who is running for president as the candidate of the center-right Horizons party, quickly fired back.
"Cutting off the tap to Ukraine is serving Russia. Weakening Ukraine as Marine Le Pen wishes is threatening the security of Europe and France. I will do everything to prevent it," he vowed.
Le Pen then lashed out at her rival, leveling a series of accusations against him, including over his record in government. She called it "dismal."
She also pointed out that while Philippe was prime minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin was hosted at the Palace of Versailles and later at Fort Brégançon.
Amid this, the far-right leader reiterated her position on Russia's war against Ukraine.
"Since Russia's aggression against Ukraine, I have been demanding that France urgently convene a major conference for peace in order to contribute, not to the prolongation of a bloodbath, but to a diplomatic resolution of this abominable war," Le Pen said.
Philippe responded by accusing Le Pen of being too closely aligned with the Kremlin's position and pointed to her past statements about Russia.
He highlighted the National Rally leader's ties to Russia, calling her the voice of weakness and criminal accommodation with the Kremlin and insisting that she could rewrite her speeches about Russia, but no one would forget her ties with it.
As previously reported, Le Pen had significantly strengthened her position ahead of the French presidential election.
A report also emerged that the far-right leader could win both rounds of the election.
