Le Pen backtracks on Putin. Cuts to aid for Kyiv

“The honest thing to do with Zelensky is to tell him – or rather, to warn him – that we cannot do any more, we cannot cope with any more,” said Marine Le Pen in an interview with the Financial Times, suggesting a halt to financial aid to Ukraine within six months of her election because France can no longer afford it. Just a few weeks ago, Le Pen and Bardella had condemned “the acts of hostility committed in Europe” by Russia, drawing a clear line against Vladimir Putin and indirectly lecturing Conte, Vannacci and Salvini: “We will never tolerate him hoping to dictate, directly or indirectly, our country’s policy through intimidation, threats, destabilisation or psychological pressure,” the two leaders of the Rassemblement National had stated in a joint communiqué.

Now the leader of the French far right has changed her mind, and when asked by the British newspaper whether Russia poses the main threat to Europe’s security, she replied: “I cannot read Mr Putin’s mind and I do not know his plans”.