NO MONEY FOR UKRAINE AND EU BUDGET CUTS : WHAT COULD A LE PEN VICTORY MEAN FOR THE EU ?

What happened: Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally, is campaigning for the 2027 presidency on a platform to cut France's EU budget contributions and end funding for Ukraine, saying France could sustain funding for only six months. Key numbers: France has committed an estimated €27 billion Why it matters: Zelenskyy pushed back, saying the price is not as high as the value of people's lives. Analysts said cuts to EU-level funding would hit Ukraine harder than reduced French bilateral aid, and that opposing such mechanisms would put the whole European assistance framework at risk.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally, is campaigning for the 2027 presidency on a platform to cut France's EU budget contributions and end funding for Ukraine, saying France could sustain funding for only six months.

Zelenskyy pushed back, saying the price is not as high as the value of people's lives. Analysts said cuts to EU-level funding would hit Ukraine harder than reduced French bilateral aid, and that opposing such mechanisms would put the whole European assistance framework at risk.