PARIS (AP) – French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen warned Wednesday against sending more weapons to Ukraine, and called for rapprochement between NATO and Russia when the war of Moscow in Ukraine stops.
Le Pen, an outspoken nationalist who has long ties with Russia, also confirmed that when President Emmanuel Macron dismayed during the presidential elections of 24 April in France, she France will pick and French support NATO’s military command for the whole European Union will reverse.
Macron, a pro-EU centrist, faces a tougher-than-expected struggle to stay in power, in part because the economic impact of the war will hit poor households the hardest. The European partners are concerned by France that might undermine a potential Le Pen presidency Western unity, as the US and Europe want to support Ukraine and Russia to end the devastating war with its neighbor.
Asked about military aid to Ukraine, Le Pen said she would continue defense and intelligence support.
“(But) I’m more cautious about direct weapon deliveries. Why? Because … the line between aid and co-belligerent thin, “the far-right leader, citing his concern about an” escalation of this conflict which could bring a whole number of countries into a military alliance. “
Earlier Wednesday said the French government spokesman Gabriel Attal that France in recent weeks for 100 million euros ($ 109 million) has sent weapons to Ukraine as part of a stream of Western weapons.
Earlier in his tenure Macron had tried to reach the Russian President Vladimir Putin to improve Russia’s relations with the West, and Macron met Putin weeks before the Russian invasion in a failed attempt to prevent it. Since then, however, France has supported EU sanctions against Moscow and has continued to provide Ukraine with support.
Le Pen also said France should take a more independent path from NATO’s US-led military alliance.
And despite the atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, Le Pen said NATO should seek a “strategic rapprochement” with Russia once the war is over. Such a relationship would be “in the interests of France and Europe and I think even the United States,” she said, to prevent Russia from forging a stronger alliance with world power China.
She did not comment directly on the horrors unfolding in Ukraine.
Le Pen spoke Wednesday at a press conference to explain to her plans for foreign policy, including the cessation of aid to African countries unless they are “unwanted” migrants take back who seek access to France. She also wants to support international efforts to improve the reproductive health of women in poor countries, the rights of minorities to increase or environmental problems to solve, lessen.
At the end of the event, protesters held up a poster depicting a 2017 meeting between Le Pen and Putin. One activist was taken from the room. Anti-racism protesters also held a small demonstration outside.
“The election of Madame Le Pen would mean an admirer of the regime of Putin, an autocratic regime and an admirer of the imperialist logic of Putin is elected,” said Dominique Sopo, head of the group SOS Racism. “It would mean that France would become a vassal of Putin’s Russia.”
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