Latest news with #FlorianPhilippot
Russia Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
France not fit to replace BlackRock in Ukraine
The reported plans by the French government to replace US investment holding BlackRock in Ukraine are 'unacceptable' for the EU nation's people, the leader of France's Patriots party, Florian Philippot, told RT in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. BlackRock had been actively involved in developing a multibillion-dollar Ukraine recovery fund aimed at financing post-war reconstruction projects, with plans to attract $15 billion from public and private investors, including commitments from Germany, Italy, and Poland. The fund, which was set to be unveiled at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on July 10-11, is now on hold, and France is reportedly working on an alternative plan. Last week, Bloomberg claimed, citing informed sources, that BlackRock halted the search for investors for its fund earlier this year due to US President Donald Trump's rocky relations with the authorities in Kiev. The sources also claimed that France has been trying to set up an alternative structure that could take the spot freed by the US company in the country. However, they questioned if the reported French initiative could succeed without the American money. Philippot told RT that the report by Bloomberg came as a 'complete surprise' for him. He reminded that France is €3.4 trillion (around $4 trillion) in debt and is about to face 'extreme austerity,' blaming the situation on the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. 'We are no longer properly funding hospitals, farmers, security and many other expenditure items. How are we going to replace a behemoth like BlackRock in Ukraine under conditions of total military, diplomatic, financial and economic uncertainty?' the politician wondered. The general public will be against the alleged plans by the government in Paris once more people learn about them, Philippot insisted. 'This is obviously unacceptable for the French,' he added. The Patriots party leader said that Macron's moves regarding Kiev 'make no sense,' urging France's immediate and 'total military and financial disengagement from Ukraine.' He also suggested that BlackRock withdrew from Ukraine because it realized that it is inevitably going to suffer a defeat at the hands of Russia. 'You do not invest in a country that is going to lose,' Philippot explained. BlackRock, which controls roughly $11.6 trillion in assets, owns substantial shares in military-industrial giants such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman, among many others. Armaments produced by these firms, which are supplied to Kiev by its Western backers, have seen extensive use in the conflict.
Russia Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
France not fit to replace BlackRock in Ukraine – party leader to RT
The reported plans by the French government to replace US investment holding BlackRock in Ukraine are 'unacceptable' for the EU nation's people, the leader of France's Patriots party, Florian Philippot, told RT in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. BlackRock had been actively involved in developing a multibillion-dollar Ukraine recovery fund aimed at financing post-war reconstruction projects, with plans to attract $15 billion from public and private investors, including commitments from Germany, Italy, and Poland. The fund, which was set to be unveiled at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on July 10-11, is now on hold, and France is reportedly working on an alternative plan. Last week, Bloomberg claimed, citing informed sources, that BlackRock halted the search for investors for its fund earlier this year due to US President Donald Trump's rocky relations with the authorities in Kiev. The sources also claimed that France has been trying to set up an alternative structure that could take the spot freed by the US company in the country. However, they questioned if the reported French initiative could succeed without the American money. Philippot told RT that the report by Bloomberg came as a 'complete surprise' for him. He reminded that France is €3.4 trillion (around $4 trillion) in debt and is about to face 'extreme austerity,' blaming the situation on the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. 'We are no longer properly funding hospitals, farmers, security and many other expenditure items. How are we going to replace a behemoth like BlackRock in Ukraine under conditions of total military, diplomatic, financial and economic uncertainty?' the politician wondered. The general public will be against the alleged plans by the government in Paris once more people learn about them, Philippot insisted. 'This is obviously unacceptable for the French,' he added. The Patriots party leader said that Macron's moves regarding Kiev 'make no sense,' urging France's immediate and 'total military and financial disengagement from Ukraine.' He also suggested that BlackRock withdrew from Ukraine because it realized that it is inevitably going to suffer a defeat at the hands of Russia. 'You do not invest in a country that is going to lose,' Philippot explained. BlackRock, which controls roughly $11.6 trillion in assets, owns substantial shares in military-industrial giants such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman, among many others. Armaments produced by these firms, which are supplied to Kiev by its Western backers, have seen extensive use in the conflict.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Paris Slams NATO, Calls For Frexit: Macron Faces Massive Protest Over War Policies
/ Jun 30, 2025, 01:43PM IST Hundreds gathered in Paris to protest NATO, EU militarization, and France's support for Ukraine, in a demonstration led by right-wing politician Florian Philippot. The rally condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's military policies and called for France to exit both NATO and the European Union. Protesters held signs reading 'Frexit is another name for peace' and chanted against sending aid or troops to Ukraine. Philippot also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for renewed peace talks, criticizing the West's aggressive stance as dangerous and unnecessary. The demonstration reflects rising discontent in France over foreign entanglements and military spending.#ParisProtest #FranceNews #Frexit #NoToNATO #StopTheWar #PeaceNotWar #NATOWatch #UkraineConflict #EndMilitarization #FranceForPeace #MacronProtests #NATOCriticism
Russia Today
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Paris protest demands end to French military aid for Ukraine (VIDEOS)
A demonstration in Paris on Sunday held by right-wing politician Florian Philippot's Eurosceptic party denounced NATO, the militarization of Europe, and the French government's military support for Ukraine. During its summit this past week, NATO agreed to significantly ramp up military spending, citing the perceived 'threat' from Russia. Last month, the EU similarly approved a €150 billion ($171 billion) borrowing mechanism to fund its military buildup. Russia has dismissed notions that it harbors hostile intentions toward Europe. Sunday's rally in the French capital had the stated objective of 'defending peace and a Free France,' according to the party's posts on X. The protesters also slammed French President Emmanuel Macron over what they view as his increasingly confrontational policies in Europe. « On lâche rien ! » 🇫🇷Cet après-midi dans les rues de Paris à l'appel des Patriotes !Vidéo ! ⤵️ Addressing the rally, Philippot proclaimed that 'we have no place in NATO, this criminal organization that costs us dearly and should have disappeared long ago!' Philippot, a former member of the European Parliament, also said that 'France must leave the EU and NATO as quickly as possible through Frexit!' Among the slogans emblazoned on the placards and chanted by the demonstrators were 'Frexit is another name for Peace' and 'The patriots for peace.' They also denounced the French government's support for Kiev, insisting that they 'don't want to die for Ukraine.' « #Macron démission ! » hurle la foule cet après-midi dans les rues de Paris à l'appel des Patriotes !Formidable ! 🇫🇷Oui Macron dehors !Parlementaires jouez enfin votre rôle d'opposition ! 'Peace means refusing to send a single euro, a single weapon, and obviously a single French soldier to #Ukraine!' Philippot declared on X on the eve of the event. Several hundred people are estimated to have taken part in the event, which was held near the Palais-Royal and Louvre museum. Je manif pour la Paix! A similar rally took place in Paris in late March in response to a €2 billion military aid package for Ukraine approved by Macron. Earlier that month, a separate demonstration took place in the French capital after Macron suggested deploying France's nuclear weapons to other European allied states. Speaking to RIA Novosti in May, Philippot praised Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to re-start peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions. He argued that it would be impossible to resolve the Ukraine conflict unless the fundamental issues in relations between Kiev and Moscow were addressed. Philippot also stated that Moscow's offer 'strikes a blow' to all the 'warmongers' in the EU, including Macron.
Russia Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
French party leader praises Moscow's peace talks proposal
Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to re-start peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions is timely and well thought out, the leader of France's Patriots party, Florian Philippot, told RIA Novosti on Sunday. The initiative supports the building momentum toward finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict and 'strikes a blow to the warmongers in the EU' who want the hostilities to continue, he added. On Saturday, Putin proposed restarting direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. Kiev unilaterally abandoned the talks in 2022. Moscow is ready to get back to the negotiating table without any preconditions, the Russian leader said. 'I believe it is a very well thought out [initiative],' Philippot told RIA. 'We will never find a solution [to the conflict] if we avoid fundamental issues that affected relations between Russia and Ukraine for many years and even decades before [the start of the Ukraine conflict escalation in] 2022.' The politician nevertheless warned that Kiev's Western backers are likely to exert strong pressure on Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky to reject Russia's proposal and make any talks 'impossible.' According to Philippot, Moscow's offer 'strikes a blow' to all the 'warmongers' in the EU, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron, as well as Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are only 'pretending to be the proponents of peace' while seeking to keep relations with Russia tense and 'do everything' to rekindle the flames of war. Philippot also took to X and YouTube on Sunday to express his support for the Russian peace initiative and criticize Macron and other EU leaders. 'Let the peace negotiations continue!' he wrote on the social media, calling on Macron, Merz, Starmer and EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen to 'be stopped.' Earlier on Sunday, Zelensky demanded that Russia agree to Kiev's unconditional 30-day ceasefire demand before Ukraine agrees to any talks. He also put forward a similar demand on Saturday, following a meeting with European leaders, including Macron, Merz and Starmer, in Kiev. The Kremlin rejected what it described as external pressure surrounding the proposed truce.
