Le Pen, who has long expressed admiration for Russia’s leadership, has navigated a fraught political dance since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 of last year. The far-right candidate has styled a shift in tone while maintaining a connection to Russia, though this stance has not clearly translated into electoral gains. In the second round of the French presidential election, Marine Le Pen faces the incumbent Emmanuel Macron. The leader of the National Rally party showed an increase in vote share compared with the first round of 2017 (23.4% in 2022 versus 22.07% in 2017), underscoring a persistent base even as public opinion remains divided over relations with Russia.
The history of the Le Pen–Putin relationship stretches back many years. In 2014, when the National Front (the predecessor to the National Rally) received financial support from a Kremlin-linked bank, it marked a turning point in the party’s international connections. The First Czech-Russian Bank, then based in Moscow and later closed, contributed 9 million euros to the campaign. That same year, Russia moved to annex Crimea, a move the international community, including the European Union, did not recognize and responded to with sanctions.
Meeting with Putin
Le Pen publicly supported the annexation narrative, arguing that the situation in Crimea reflected the will of its residents. In interviews she suggested that the referendum outcome justified closer ties to Russia.
In 2017, Le Pen traveled to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin amid the French presidential campaign. She spoke of a changing global order and claimed that new dynamics had emerged, aligning herself with a few world leaders who had engaged with Putin, alongside leaders from Lebanon and Chad. Photos from their encounter circulated widely, reinforcing the perception of close discussions about Crimea and broader sanctions policy. Le Pen argued that the EU’s measures against Russia could be reconsidered should she be elected, a stance that drew strong reactions and led to questions about whether her campaign would ease or exacerbate tensions with Moscow. Ukraine subsequently banned her entry into the country after those pro-Russian statements.
Shifts in Ukraine policy amid the war
As Russia renewed aggression in Ukraine, Le Pen publicly tried to temper past links with Moscow. Campaign materials mentioning Putin were removed, and coverage of their 2017 Kremlin meeting was minimized in some circles. When the war intensified, her position appeared to soften on some sanctions, even if she argued that the impact on French and global energy and commodity markets could be severe. She also voiced caution about embargoes on Russian energy, emphasizing potential consequences for France and beyond.
Despite calls to condemn the invasion in the strongest terms, Le Pen framed sanctions as a complex instrument and cautioned against blanket punitive measures that could harm ordinary people. Her stance on Ukraine included supporting aid and humanitarian relief while urging consideration of strategic interests and stability in the broader European context.
The return of Le Pen
In the ongoing debate about Russia’s role in European security, Le Pen suggested that Ukraine might need to make concessions in certain areas in response to Moscow’s concerns. She also updated her approach toward refugees, indicating that placing refugees in neighboring countries could be a viable short-term solution rather than hosting a large influx within France. Yet in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, she presented a more open stance toward accepting Ukrainians seeking safety in France.
Taken together, the evolution of Le Pen’s positions on Russia and Ukraine reflects a wake of political calculations. Critics say her rhetoric sometimes blurred the line between opposition to aggressive action and sympathy for the Kremlin, a distinction that has complicated her standing on the international stage and within France’s evolving security debates.