Exit polls show that Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Marine Le Pen, his far-right opponent, topped Sunday’s first round presidential election. They will face each other in the final vote, which takes place on April 24, according to exit polls.

Prior to the election, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising living costs were prominent issues. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine without warning and the mediation attempts by Macron earlier in this year, Macron support had increased. French president Macron tried to reach diplomatic agreements between Moscow and Kyiv.

This momentum was lost in the final round of the vote. Macron’s busy schedule meant that he missed his national campaign due to being delayed. voter polls tightening right up until election day.

The conflict has accentuated higher energy prices and the broader spike in inflation — something that Macron’s government has tried to tackle. But it’s an issue that his opponent Le Pen, who heads up the anti-immigration National Rally party — leveraged significantly in her campaign.

Le Pen has long been viewed as an economically left-wing candidate despite being closely associated with France’s Far Fight. He is also very concerned about the cost of living. Concerns about the economic and political unity of Europe’s reaction to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine have contributed to some of the market volatility.

Le Pen had in the past expressed sympathies to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, as well as openly questioned the European Union. Le Pen has attempted to distance herself form Putin. her campaign staff have denied reportsThe leaflets contained a photo of Le Pen with Putin and were to be destroyed.

The pair faced off in 2017 in Paris, when Macron took 66.1% and Le Pen 33.9% respectively. Macron (head of the centrist and liberal En Marche party) received slightly more than 24% while Le Pen garnered 21.3%.

Le Pen, who lost the election runoff five years ago in a resounding victory, is now not campaigning for either an EU withdrawal or the end of the EU. euroHowever, her rise to the presidency could cause problems for the bloc.

It is breaking news and is currently being updated.

—CNBC’s Elliot Smith contributed to this article.