French Minister Warns: Cutting Ukraine’s Arms “Strengthens Russia’s Hand”

French Junior Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad warned that suspending military aid to Ukraine would embolden Russia and push peace further out of reach according to Reuters, on March 4.

“Fundamentally, if you want peace, does a decision to suspend arms to Ukraine reinforce peace or does it make it more distant? It makes it more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia,” Haddad said.

His remarks came as reports emerged that the Trump administration had paused U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Bloomberg reported that all military equipment transit, including weapons on aircraft, ships, and waiting in transit areas in Poland was halted as of March 3.

The administration still had $3.85 billion in undrawn funds for Ukraine, but the pause was expected to impact future aid deliveries as well.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the reported aid freeze, calling it the “greatest contribution to peace.”