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.