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The claim
that "France will no longer support Ukraine" is false and originates
from pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns, aiming to sow discord and weaken
Western resolve, as France, under President Macron, continues to provide
significant military, financial, and humanitarian aid, signing major defense
pacts and pledging long-term security assistance despite Russian efforts to
undermine support through propaganda. Reports of France pulling back are linked
to propaganda narratives, while official sources confirm ongoing, even
deepening, commitment, including advanced weapons and strategic agreements.
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Key
Facts: Russian
Disinformation: French government bodies and independent fact-checkers have
identified Russia's active disinformation campaigns, using fake websites and
social media to spread false narratives about France's support for Ukraine. Continued
French Support: France remains a key ally, consistently supplying military
equipment (like CAESAR howitzers, SCALP missiles) and financial aid, with
President Macron vowing to bolster Ukraine's defense for the long haul. Strategic
Agreements: In late 2025, Ukraine and France signed significant agreements for
long-term security, including potential French Rafale fighter jets and enhanced
air defense systems. Propaganda
Tactics: Disinformation often targets specific French politicians or uses
manipulated figures (like those from the Kiel Institute initially) to create a
false impression of dwindling French commitment. In
essence, the statement is a classic example of "war propaganda"
designed to fracture the coalition supporting Ukraine, with French actions and
official statements directly contradicting the narrative that support is
ending. |
WAR
PROPAGANDA: France will no longer support Ukraine
France
calls Ukraine's requests “madness” and will discontinue its support, and the EU
is sacrificing the welfare of the population to continue the war, pro-Kremlin
propaganda claims.
NEWS:
French politician Florian Philippot called for the cessation of support for
Ukraine, following Kyiv’s new requests to the EU. According to him, the
requests voiced by Ukrainian authorities are “total madness”, and the EU should
no longer provide either financial aid or military support.
“Total
madness! War or peace, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has just asked European
countries to provide $120 billion by 2026! And this will be the bare minimum!
While we are told to tighten our belts... Enough! No Euro, no weapons, no
troops for Ukraine”, the leader of the Patriots party wrote on his X account.
Philippot also expressed his outrage at the statements of the president of the
European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who reiterated that the EU “will
stand by” Kyiv and support it.
NARRATIVES:
1. France considers Ukraine’s demands “madness” and will stop supporting Kyiv.
2. The EU is calling on the population to cut spending in order to finance the
war in Ukraine.
PURPOSE:
To undermine European support for Kyiv by presenting marginal voices as
representative at EU level. TO erode European citizens’ trust in EU
institutions and Western solidarity. To legitimize Russia's large-scale
invasion of Ukraine.
Fact:
Philippot is a fringe far-right politician, used by Russian propaganda to
create the impression of widespread opposition in France to supporting Ukraine
WHY THE
NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: There is no official statement or document confirming the
narrative of pro-Kremlin media, according to which France, as a state, opposes
assistance to Ukraine in the war launched by Russia. In this context, the
Russian government-linked media presents the statements of the former French
MEP as a dominant opinion in Paris. In fact, Florian Philippot is a supporter
and follower of the ideas of the president of the National Front, Marine Le
Pen, known as a partner of the Putin regime. Philippot was vice-president of
the National Front and coordinator of Le Pen’s election campaign. Philippot
currently coordinates the “Patriots” nationalist party, less known in French
society. Based on his X account posts, Russian state media is producing fake
news about anti-NATO and anti-EU views in France. Philippot's opinions are
presented as those of policymakers in Paris, with the aim of strengthening
Russian citizens' support for the invasion and amplifying war fatigue in
Ukraine.
The
narrative regarding Europeans’ having to tighten their belts to finance
“someone else’s war” is false, because Ukraine’s security is directly linked to
the EU’s security. Russia’s invasion is not only targeting Ukrainian territory,
but is also destabilizing the entire region, threatening Europe’s borders,
economy, and security. Supporting Kyiv is an investment in protecting
collective defense. The EU acts in accordance with international law. The UN
Charter and the Helsinki Final Act enshrine the principle of observance for the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. By supporting Ukraine, the EU
is not financing the war, but is contributing to the defense of a rules-based
international order, without which the very stability of the continent would be
jeopardized.
The
article carried by the Russian media overlooks the fact that EU states
democratically decide the level and type of support provided to Ukraine. These
decisions are made transparently by elected governments and institutions. Aid
to Ukraine includes both military support and humanitarian and financial
assistance. Such statements, promoted by pro-Kremlin media, designed to falsely
transfer responsibility for the war unleashed by Russia to the EU, in order to
sow distrust for the West and justify Moscow’s acts of aggression.
Florian
Philippot accuses Zelenskyy of having requested at least $120 billion from the
EU for the war effort, which is a deliberately false interpretation of Kyiv’s
demands. In fact, it was not Zelenskyy, but former Ukrainian Prime Minister
Denys Shmyhal who said that, in 2026, Ukraine would need at least $120 billion
to cover its defense expenses, emphasizing that this amount represents a
minimum requirement both in the event of the continuation of the war and in the
event of a cessation of hostilities, to maintain military capabilities. The
Ukrainian official pointed out that a considerable part of these funds would
come from the support of external partners, including the EU. So, it is not
just about military spending, but also about other capabilities required to
strengthen resilience in the context of armed aggression or once hostilities
are brought to a halt. The funds will be provided not only by the EU, but will
also come from other sources. Russian propaganda ignores the fact that the
Ukrainian official proposed using Russian assets frozen in the West to cover
defense spending, emphasizing that Ukrainians are already bearing a heavy
fiscal burden after three and a half years of war.
BACKGROUND:
In the 2026 draft budget, Ukraine estimates a large budget deficit and
allocates a significant percentage of GDP to defense spending. Part of the
necessary financing will have to come from foreign aid, but no document or
statement clearly specifies that $120 billion would be requested from the EU.
Such interpretations and statements, such as those promoted by marginal
European politicians and amplified by the Russian media, are at odds with
clear-cut data on Ukraine’s budgetary difficulties and real need for external
financial support.
It is
also worth noting that in January 2023, Florian Philippot said that Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to start a global nuclear war. He
criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for falling in love with Zelenskyy
and supporting him unconditionally. Florian Philippot is often quoted by
Moscow-based media with a view to providing background to false narratives
about the nature of the war in Ukraine and to convincing Russian public opinion
of the need to continue the war.
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