Marine Le Pen Urges EU to Resort to Diplomacy Rather Than Arms Supplies to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Western countries are continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict after Russia launched a special military operation in the country with the goal to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" it.

The leader of the French party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, urged the European Union to rely on diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine crisis, not increase the supply of weapons.

"You have to bet everything on diplomacy", Le Pen said, cited by BFMTV. "Diplomatic action must be taken as soon as possible. Adding weapons to the war does not make it stop".

She also called on maintaining diplomatic ties with all parties and thus searching for a solution to the problems.

Le Pen, considered by many to be one of the most serious rivals that incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron will face in the April presidential race, spoke against a "Cold War" against Russian President Vladimir Putin in early February.

At the time, Le Pen said that the United States was "pushing Ukraine towards the idea of ​​joining NATO so that it can deploy military forces", thus prompting Russia to move its troops to the border.

Now that Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, citing the goal to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" the neighbouring country, Western countries are continuing to beef up the Ukrainian military with weapons.

France is sending defence equipment and fuel support to Ukraine. Among other countries that are supplying weapons to the country are Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden (which is a major step away from its neutral stance), and Germany. Berlin, for its part, has also shifted from its foreign policy not to send lethal weapons to conflict zones, deciding to send 1,000 anti-tank rocket launchers, 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, nine Howitzers, 14 armoured vehicles, and 10,000 tonnes of fuel to Ukraine.

On Thursday, Norway sent 2,000 M72 anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine. Earlier in the week, the United States said it was also delivering weapons to Ukraine and "has various means of doing so". Additionally, Canada and Australia have also approved weapons assistance to Ukraine.

However, NATO underlined that it does not see itself part of the conflict and will not deploy its troops in Ukraine or move its aircraft into the country's airspace.