Macron and Le Pen debate – Germany’s Ukraine arms dilemma – POLITICO

We review the major clash between French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. And we unpack with military expert and think tank Gustav Gressel Germany’s argument over whether to send heavy weapons to Ukraine.

POLITICO’s Andrew Gray is joined by Clea Caulcutt in Paris to analyze the live TV debate between centre-incumbent Macron and far-right challenger Le Pen on Wednesday night ahead of the final round of France’s presidential election this Sunday. POLITICO’s Matthew Karnitschnig also joins the conversation to provide the broader European perspective on the race.

Matt then brings us this week’s feature interview with Gustav Gressel, a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. They discuss Germany’s continued reluctance to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons and their impact on Berlin’s standing within the EU and among other Western allies.

Programming note: We host a live conversation on Sunday’s French election at 10pm CET on Twitter. Andrew, Matt and Clea will be joined by other members of our French team to analyze the results, hear campaign HQ reactions and examine what the result means for France and Europe.

And we also bring you a special edition of EU Confidential on the election, which will hit your podcast feed early Monday morning. so please do subscribe or followwherever you hear.