French far-right leader says financial support for Ukraine 'must be reviewed'

Jordan Bardella, leader of France's far-right National Rally party, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that French support for Ukraine given "without any guarantees" should be replaced with a more advantageous relationship, though not stopped altogether. The report comes via Yevropeiska Pravda, citing Bloomberg TV.

Bardella said France is drowning in debt and deficits, making it irresponsible to commit to spending and promise financial support to another country without any guarantees. Everything in this area, he said, needs to be reconsidered.

Support would not be fully halted

The politician, widely seen as a likely prime ministerial candidate should Marine Le Pen win next year's presidential election, stressed that his party coming to power would not mean abandoning Ukraine altogether. He noted that the war has been going on for a very long time, and his party has for years called for a ceasefire and sufficient security guarantees for Ukraine. France, he said, has obligations and will continue to fulfill them so that Ukraine can defend its borders and territorial integrity.

Bardella praised the position taken by the United States, which requires Ukraine to give something in return for support, citing the agreement on access to Ukraine's mineral resources as an example.

He also said he wants Ukraine to guarantee that financial assistance received from European countries is used exclusively to purchase equipment from the defense industry.