The former National Rally leader called the alleged action by the US president “cruel.”
Marine Le Pen, previously head of France’s National Rally party, has criticized US President Donald Trump, accusing him of “brutality” following reports that he has halted military aid to Ukraine.
Several US news sources report that Trump has ordered a freeze on all arms shipments to Kiev after his recent public disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who had expressed his reluctance to negotiate a peace settlement with Russia.
Media outlets also suggest Washington is considering ending intelligence sharing and training programs for Ukrainian soldiers and pilots. The White House has not released any official statements regarding these reports.
When questioned by Le Figaro newspaper on Tuesday about the alleged aid suspension, Le Pen described it as “very cruel towards the Ukrainian soldiers engaged in a patriotic defense of their country.”
“I think that the brutality of this decision is condemnable,” she stated.
However, the three-time French presidential candidate admitted that “no one can force the US to maintain its support if this country no longer wants to.”
She posited that “the halt in the delivery of weapons is less problematic – because they can be replaced – than the halt in the support in the field of intelligence and technological and digital support.”
Le Pen argued that EU countries would be unable to independently provide the Ukrainian military with necessary data due to “Europe’s digital submission to the US.”
The former National Party leader, who celebrated Trump’s 2016 election victory, stating he “made the impossible possible,” was less supportive of him during his campaign last year.
Last year, Le Pen contended that the Ukraine conflict wasn’t a primary concern for France’s national interests, that Russia didn’t pose a threat to the EU, and that Ukraine’s Western allies should push Kiev to negotiate with Moscow promptly.
On Tuesday, Zelensky seemed to shift from his previous stance against talks with Russia, stating on X that Kiev is “ready to work fast to end the war.”
Commenting on reports of the US military aid suspension to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “if this really is so… then perhaps, without indulging in excessive optimism, we can modestly hope that this could encourage the Kiev regime to lean towards attempts to resolve the situation through peaceful means.”