Le Pen offers to meet Zelenskyy in Brussels
The Ukrainian leader wants to persuade the far-right leader to continue supporting Ukraine if she becomes president of France.
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen has expressed willingness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels, according to a recent interview. The offer came during an event in Paris, where Le Pen suggested that discussing Ukraine's financial aid was "justified" due to concerns over the issue's impact on Europe. She referenced German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's threats to cut EU funds for nations that do not support Ukraine financially.
Le Pen plans to extend this invitation when she meets the Ukrainian ambassador in France on Monday. As the frontrunner for the upcoming French presidential election, she has advocated for France to stop financing Ukraine's war effort, estimating the annual aid cost at €6 billion. Zelenskyy, however, maintains that the military partnership with France is mutually beneficial.
The Ukrainian leader also invited Le Pen to Kyiv, stating that meeting with Ukrainians might change her mind. Financial aid to Ukraine has emerged as a contentious topic ahead of next year's presidential election, as various candidates, including far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, have proposed controversial ideas such as a post-war referendum on the future of the Donbas region, which is largely controlled by Russia.
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