Zelensky says France ties 'win-win' after Le Pen comments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's defence cooperation with France was “win-win” after Marine Le Pen said she would cut financial aid to Kyiv if elected French president.

Zelensky told The Financial Times that Ukraine's battlefield technology experience was important for partners including Britain, the United States and France. Referring to Le Pen, he said: “Madame Le Pen is not deeply familiar with some details.”

Le Pen told Belgian television network VRT on Wednesday that France would maintain aid to Ukraine for six months if she won next year's presidential election, but would then halt financial aid because “we don't have the money”.

Surveys put Le Pen as the frontrunner before the April and May vote, when President Emmanuel Macron's final term ends.

France is one of Ukraine's strongest military supporters as Kyiv fights Russia's invasion launched in 2022, and it backs European Union financial aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine uses Franco-Italian SAMP/T surface-to-air missiles, which it has modified for air defence, and Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP long-range cruise missiles.

According to the Kiel Institute, a German think tank tracking aid to Ukraine, France has contributed 27 billion euros, or $30 billion, to Kyiv since the start of Russia's all-out invasion. That includes 7.9 billion euros in bilateral aid and 19 billion euros through EU channels.