France’s Macron and Le Pen Clash During Presidential Debate

PARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen clashed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, trading blows over which candidate was closer to Moscow and better equipped to navigate the economic fallout from the war.

Wednesday’s duel on national television was the first and only debate between the candidates, making it a pivotal event for millions of French voters who tuned in before casting ballots in Sunday’s runoff election. Polls show Mr. Macron leading Ms. Le Pen by around 9 percentage points, a margin that pales in comparison to the 32-point margin Mr. Macron notched in 2017.