Izvestia reported that on May 19, French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard affirmed that support for Ukraine will not be able to continue if France has to trade for domestic economic instability, and called on the Paris government to remain alert.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also previously said France cannot provide aid to Ukraine by depriving itself of its defense capabilities.
Speaking on Franceinfo, Ms. Genevard said that France needs to seriously consider tightening trade agreements with Ukraine, in the context of the domestic industry falling into a state of uncertainty after the decision to lift tariffs on goods from Kiev.
According to her, the import of agricultural products from Ukraine has caused too much instability for the domestic market, making it impossible for the French government to continue to do so safely in terms of socio-economics.
The head of the French Ministry of Agriculture also criticized the Paris government for deliberately ignoring the situation because of its pro-Ukrainian stance in the conflict with Russia.
Genevard stressed that France needed to find a balance in support, while affirming that reasonable aid was useful support for the Ukrainian side without disrupting domestic production.
Notably, this statement was made not long after French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France could not provide aid to Ukraine by depriving itself of its own defense capabilities.
Speaking on TF1 channel on May 13, Mr. Macron said: "We have given everything we have. But we cant give what we dont have. However, he affirmed that the policy of supporting Ukraine will continue to be considered in the framework of coordination with Western allies, to avoid the risk of direct confrontation with a nuclear power like Russia.
According to RT, the statement of the owner of the Elysee Electricity Company is not only a message to Kiev but also reflects the increasing internal pressure in France, as the country faces a escalating economic crisis.
France's budget deficit hit 5.8% of GDP last year - far exceeding the EU's recommended 3%. National public debt has also exceeded GDP by 110%, while expected growth for 2025 is only below 1%.
