Several hundred demonstrators gathered in central Paris this weekend, urging the French government to halt military support for Ukraine and withdraw from NATO and the EU. Organized by Florian Philippot, leader of the nationalist The Patriots (Les Patriots) party, the rally featured striking imagery and strong rhetoric aimed at France’s role in the Ukraine‑Russia conflict.
A Rally with a Clear Mission
The protesters—many waving the French tricolor while tearing up NATO and EU flags—chanted slogans such as “No tanks, no drones for Ukraine!” and “Macron, we won’t die for Ukraine!”
Philippot urged France to “exit NATO” and called the EU “a military bloc” pulling France towards war.
Philippot, a former vice-president of the National Front, resigned in 2017 to form The Patriots—a hard Eurosceptic party advocating “Frexit” and a return to French sovereignty
The latest demonstration marks the third such action led by his party in recent months, following rallies in February and March that similarly targeted military support and French involvement in NATO operations.
Key Demands from the Rally
1. Immediate end to military and weapons aid to Ukraine.
2. Withdrawal from NATO’s integrated command and, ultimately, from the alliance itself.
3. Exit from the European Union, aligning with the Patriots’ broader Frexit and peace platform.
France has supplied Ukraine with heavy military equipment, including Caesar self‑propelled howitzers, Crotale air‑defense batteries, and AMX‑10 RC tanks
Meanwhile, President Macron has emphasized unwavering support for Ukrainian sovereignty and security, including discussions with European partners about potential troop deployments or nuclear deterrence strategies
Philippot denounced these moves as provocative, warning they escalate conflict and centralize power in Brussels.
Protest Significance
Though police estimate place attendance in the hundreds, the rally’s visual impact—flags torn, banners raised—sent a deliberately bold message. Red banners read “No to apocalypse” and “Zelensky, return the money!” as chants filled the Palais-Royal and the banks of the Seine
While Philippot’s party commands only around 0.6–0.9% of the vote, protesters argue their vision reflects deeper disenchantment with France’s alignment toward NATO and EU policies.
The Paris protest underscores a persistent strain of French political sentiment—led by smaller nationalist groups—opposing foreign entanglements. Whether this represents a rising grassroots movement or symbolic dissent remains to be seen. But for now, Philippot and The Patriots have thrust their vision for an independent, non‑aligned France firmly into the public spotlight.
