Le Pen Ready to Meet Zelensky in Kyiv but Says France Can No Longer Fund Ukraine

Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate of France's national-conservative National Rally (RN), has said she is ready to travel to Ukraine and meet President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss French support for Kyiv. In an interview with the TV channel CNews, she repeated that France can no longer afford to fund Ukraine. The question matters because a poll suggests Le Pen could win the French presidential election due next April.

Open to talks, but no money

Le Pen stressed that she has nothing personal against Zelensky and that the issue can be discussed whenever he wishes. Asked whether she would go to Ukraine, she answered: "If I am invited."

She said France no longer has the financial means for aid that has so far cost it six billion euros a year, adding that she says this with sadness. She does not intend to scrap military assistance, which would continue, possibly in the form of equipment.

A poll taken this month indicates she could win both the first round of the election and the runoff against any opponent.

Zelensky asks for another 70 billion euros

At a European Council meeting on Friday, Zelensky said the war will cost Ukraine 155 billion euros next year and that it needs at least 70 billion euros more from Europe for defence, weapons and resilience. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to prolong the war and urged leaders not to ease sanctions on Russia.

The Ukrainian leader also called on Europe to safeguard all frozen Russian assets and find a mechanism to use them for Ukraine's support. Otherwise, he argued, Russia could gain access to the funds and spend them on financing the war.

At a press conference, Zelensky said Europe is united in backing Ukraine and understands the risks. He cited Russian drone incursions into EU airspace and a sabotage attempt in Leipzig, and stressed that the issue is not retreating from Donbas but the very survival of the Ukrainian state.

Zelensky also said the United States has not agreed to a compromise proposal under which Ukraine could have stopped attacks on Russian oil refineries.