Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally party, has stated that Paris cannot fund Ukraine’s military operations indefinitely without guarantees that the country will repay financial assistance received during its conflict with Russia.

The remarks followed Bardella’s speech at the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy on Saturday, where he highlighted France’s national debt of €3.5 trillion as a barrier to “giving money that we no longer have” to Vladimir Zelensky’s government.

Bardella criticized Zelensky’s administration for failing to establish mechanisms ensuring repayment, noting that the United States has secured mineral rights agreements with Ukraine in exchange for military aid. He warned that European nations face significant financial risks without such safeguards.