And despite the atrocities that Russian troops have committed in Ukraine, Le Pen said that NATO should seek a “strategic rapprochement” with Russia once the war was over. Such a relationship would be “in the interest of France and Europe and I think even of the United States,” she said, to stop Russia from forging a stronger alliance with world-power China.

She did not directly address the horrors unfolding in Ukraine.

Le Pen was speaking at a press conference to lay out her foreign policy plans, which include halting aid to African countries unless they take back “undesirable” migrants seeking entry to France. She also wants to slash support for international efforts to improve women’s reproductive health in poor countries, increase minority rights or solve environmental problems.

At the end of the event, protesters held up a poster showing a photo of a 2017 meeting between Le Pen and Putin. One activist was pulled out of the room. Anti-racism protesters also held a small demonstration outside.

In Sweden and Finland, long-held neutral diplomatic positions have been challenged by the war.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February.

Finland shares a border with Russia. It has deepened its partnership with NATO since Putin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

“We have a long border with Russia and we see how Russia acts in Ukraine ... and, of course, we have to wonder what is the best way to secure that [so] this would never happen in Finland,” Marin said.

“People’s mindset in Finland, and also in Sweden, changed and shifted very dramatically because of Russia’s actions.”

She said the invasion by Finland’s “big, next-door neighbour” had prompted a necessary debate, with the goal of any application to join NATO being a consensus.

“It will happen quite fast, within weeks, not within months, we will have this discussion,” she said.

“The difference between being a partner and being a member is very clear.

“There’s no other way to have security guarantees than under NATO’s deterrence and common defence as guaranteed under NATO’s Article 5.”

Andersson’s ruling party recently dropped its opposition to NATO membership and said there were pros and cons to joining the alliance.

“Being a member of NATO you do have the security of Article 5 ... no question ... at the same time you also have a responsibility towards other countries,” Anderson said.

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The two countries would likely apply in time for NATO’s gathering in June. Unlike Ukraine, which has long sought NATO membership but been rebuffed, Finland and Sweden would likely be welcomed to grow the number of member states from 30 to 32.

However, such a move would almost certainly anger Russia.

This week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Britain’s Sky News that Russia would have to take “additional measures” to ensure its security if Finland and Sweden joined.

“We’ll have to rebalance the situation and we’ll have to make our western flank more sophisticated in terms of ensuring our security,” he said.

with AP

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