Jordan Bardella rejected Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request for an additional €70 billion in European defense funding.

 

Jordan Bardella rejected Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request for an additional €70 billion in European defense funding. This clash followed a speech by the Ukrainian President on October 16, 2026, during an address to the European Council.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's war effort will cost €155 billion next year and requested the extra €70 billion from the European Union to fund weapons, defense, and drone production.

The Core Positions

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Request: The Ukrainian leader argued that the €70 billion request is a "realistic amount" needed to successfully hold back Russia, which is projected to spend a record 17.1 trillion rubles (approx. €180 billion) on its military budget. He noted that with this funding, Ukraine could double or triple its domestic drone production to effectively sever Russian supply lines.
• Jordan Bardella's Rejection: Jordan Bardella, leader of France's Rassemblement National (RN), quickly pushed back on French media like BFMTV, stating that "France does not have the money" to fulfill this demand.

Bardella's Criticisms of European Aid

While Bardella has previously characterized Russia as a multi-dimensional threat to Europe, his response to the funding request highlighted domestic financial constraints and strategic critiques:

1.    Lack of Economic Reciprocity: Bardella argued that while the United States tied its military aid to specific diplomatic and economic agreements—such as access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals—the European Union has provided billions without establishing equivalent strategic or economic benefits.

2.    Push for Peace Negotiations: Rather than approving massive new financing packages, Bardella emphasized that the absolute priority must shift toward a coordinated European diplomatic initiative to negotiate peace terms and secure long-term safety guarantees for Ukraine.

 

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On October 21, 2026, Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel is scheduled to present a comprehensive strategy paper at the European Parliament aimed at drastically scaling back the power and budget of the European Union.

AfD’s Alice Weidel to unveil plan to downsize the EU

On October 21, 2026, Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel is scheduled to present a comprehensive strategy paper at the European Parliament aimed at drastically scaling back the power and budget of the European Union.

The proposal, titled "Sovereign Nations, Shared Europe" (Souveräne Nationen, gemeinsames Europa), marks a strategic modification of the far-right party's founding anti-EU roots. Instead of an immediate "Dexit" (Germany's exit from the EU), the plan outlines aggressive structural reforms to downsize the bloc from within.

Core Elements of the AfD Reform Plan

According to leaked details and reports published on October 20, 2026, the strategy document outlines several major demands:

• Abolishing European Parliament Elections: The party aims to end direct elections to the European Parliament, seeking instead to weaken the European Commission and return foundational legislative powers back to national governments.
• Cutting and Capping the EU Budget: The plan calls for freezing EU staff hiring, shutting down numerous EU agencies, and using Germany's veto power to eliminate EU revenues derived from plastic taxes and Value Added Tax (VAT).
• National Opt-Outs for Berlin: The AfD demands immediate exemptions for Germany from standard EU regulations governing migration, social policy, defense, taxation, and joint borrowing.
• Shifting Power in the ECB: The plan advocates for giving larger Eurozone economies, like Germany, greater voting weight within the European Central Bank (ECB) while firmly opposing the introduction of a digital euro.

The Veto Threat and Referendum Ultimatum

To force Brussels into accepting these sweeping treaty renegotiations, Weidel proposes using Germany's legislative veto as political leverage. The AfD states that if the EU blocks these reforms, the party will use its veto power to halt Berlin's contributions to the common EU budget and paralyze future EU financing legislation.

The strategy paper sets 2029—the year of the next federal and European elections—as the target timeline to begin implementing these measures. If Brussels completely refuses to restructure, the AfD maintains that it will ultimately put the question of Germany’s EU membership to a public referendum.

The policy shift is pending formal approval at an AfD party convention scheduled for next year.