Paris Protest Demands France End Military Aid to Ukraine, Exit NATO and EU

A rally held Sunday in Paris by Florian Philippot’s right-wing Eurosceptic party, The Patriots, called for France to withdraw from NATO and the European Union and condemned the country’s military support for Ukraine.

The demonstration criticized NATO’s recent decision to significantly increase military spending amid tensions with Russia, as well as the EU’s approval last month of a €150 billion ($171 billion) borrowing mechanism aimed at boosting defense capabilities. Russia continues to deny any hostile intentions toward Europe.

Organizers framed the protest as a defense of “peace and a Free France,” with participants denouncing President Emmanuel Macron’s policies as increasingly confrontational on the European stage.

Addressing the crowd, Philippot declared, “We have no place in NATO, this criminal organization that costs us dearly and should have disappeared long ago!” He further urged a swift “Frexit,” calling for France to exit both the EU and NATO.

Protesters carried signs reading slogans such as “Frexit is another name for Peace” and “The patriots for peace.” Many voiced opposition to French military aid to Kyiv, chanting that they “don’t want to die for Ukraine.”

On social media ahead of the event, Philippot stated, “Peace means refusing to send a single euro, a single weapon, and obviously a single French soldier to Ukraine!”

The demonstration, which drew several hundred attendees, took place near the Palais-Royal and the Louvre.

This protest follows a similar rally in March opposing a €2 billion French military aid package to Ukraine and came amid heightened debate over Macron’s suggestion earlier that month to potentially deploy France’s nuclear weapons to other European allies.

In a May interview with RIA Novosti, Philippot expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume peace talks without preconditions, arguing that fundamental issues between Kyiv and Moscow must be addressed to resolve the conflict. He also claimed the proposal dealt a blow to “warmongers” within the EU, including Macron.