Le Pen, a staunch nationalist with long-standing ties to Russia, also confirmed that if she ousts President Emanuel Macron in the run-up to France’s April 24 presidential election, she will withdraw France from NATO and support NATO. support for the whole of the European Union. Macron, a pro-EU centrist, faces a tougher-than-expected struggle to stay in power, in part because the economic impact of the war has hit poor households hardest. France’s European partners are worried that a possible Le Pen presidency could undermine Western unity as the United States and Europe seek to support Ukraine and end Russia’s destructive war against its neighbor. Asked about military assistance to Ukraine, Le Pen said she would continue to provide defense and intelligence support. “(But) I’m more skeptical about direct arms deliveries. Why; “Because … the line is between aid and becoming a comrade-in-arms,” ​​said the far-right leader, citing concerns about “escalating this conflict that could lead to a whole number of countries taking military action.” Earlier on Wednesday, French government spokesman Gabriel Atal said France had sent 100m euros worth of weapons to Ukraine in recent weeks as part of a Western arms flow. Earlier in his term, Macron had tried to contact Russian President Vladimir Putin to improve Russia’s relations with the West, and Macron met with Putin weeks before the Russian invasion in a failed attempt to prevent it. Since then, however, France has supported EU sanctions against Moscow and has offered continued support to Ukraine. Le Pen also said that France needed to take a more independent path from the US-led NATO military alliance. And despite the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, Le Pen said NATO should pursue a “strategic approach” with Russia as soon as the war is over. Such a relationship would be “in the interests of France and Europe and I think even the United States,” he said, to prevent Russia from forging a stronger alliance with the world power, China. He did not immediately mention the horror unfolding in Ukraine. Le Pen spoke at a news conference Wednesday to outline her foreign policy plans, which include suspending aid to African countries unless they accept “unwanted” migrants seeking entry into France. It also wants to cut support for international efforts to improve women’s reproductive health in poor countries, strengthen minority rights or solve environmental problems. At the end of the event, protesters held a poster showing a meeting between Le Pen and Putin in 2017. An activist was pulled out of the room. Anti-racism protesters also staged a small demonstration outside. “The election of Ms. Le Pen would mean the election of a fan of Putin’s regime, an authoritarian regime and a fan of Putin’s imperialist logic,” said Dominique Sopo, head of the SOS Racism group. “It would mean that France would become subservient to Putin’s Russia.”

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