The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed a deep divide in the upcoming French elections, where incumbent President Emmanuel Macron will take on far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The second round of the polls is scheduled for April 24, 2022.

Le Pen, a nationalist who is known to have ties with Russia, said that she would reduce the current weapons supply to Kyiv to avoid France’s direct involvement in the conflict. However, defense and intelligence support would continue, Le Pen said.

“I am more reserved about direct arms deliveries. Why? Because the line is thin between aid and becoming a co-belligerent,” the far-right leader said, citing concerns about an “escalation of this conflict that could bring a whole number of countries into a military commitment.”

Macron, on the other hand, has been actively involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has also sent large aid packages, both military and humanitarian.

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 ruinous war on its neighbour, Associated Press reported.

What has France been doing so far?

Just hours before Le Pen announced her plans, Paris said it has supplied weapons worth $109 million to Ukraine in the recent weeks as part of a combined flow of Western arms.

Earlier in his term, Macron had tried to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin to improve Russia’s relations with the West, and Macron met with Putin weeks before the Russian invasion in an unsuccessful effort to prevent it.

Since then, however, France has supported European Union sanctions against Moscow and has offered sustained support to Ukraine, Associated Press reported.

Le Pen’s stance on NATO and European Union

Le Pen has said that France should strike a more independent path from the United States-led NATO military alliance, diverting from a traditional stance.

The presidential candidate also suggested that France should seek “strategic rapprochement” with Russia once the war is over. Such a relationship would be “in the interest of France and Europe and even of the United States.”