France cannot finance Ukraine 'without anything in return,' far-right leader says
RN co-leader Jordan Bardella nevertheless did not advocate for "abandoning" Ukraine completely, noting that France should help Kyiv defend its territorial integrity.
France cannot indefinitely finance Ukraine without receiving something in return, according to Jordan Bardella, co-leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on September 6, Bardella, representing the nationalist and anti-immigration RN, emphasized that France should assist Kyiv in defending its territory but stressed that France cannot continue providing financial support without any guarantees.
The RN co-leader, who has long advocated for a ceasefire and security guarantees for Kyiv, noted that France is "drowning in deficit" and cannot keep giving resources that it no longer has. Bardella expressed the RN's position that while France has been a key ally of Ukraine in its war against Russia, providing jets, long-range missiles, intelligence support, and other aid, the country cannot continue financing the war indefinitely.
Bardella also mentioned that with President Emmanuel Macron concluding his two terms as president, Marine Le Pen, Bardella's party co-leader, is seen as the favorite for the French presidential election next year. The RN has attempted to distance itself from some of its pro-Russian stances since the onset of the full-scale war in 2022 but has maintained a reserved stance towards Kyiv and criticized the extent of support given by Macron's administration.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
