Macron: Putin’s goal is to occupy all of Ukraine

The conversation lasted an hour and a half, according to the Elysee Palace. This is the third conversation between the two leaders since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine a week ago.

After the conversation, Macron reportedly called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

Promise to continue fighting

According to an aide to the French president, Vladimir Putin in the conversation justified the invasion by saying that it was about “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. The employee described Putin’s comments as “shocking and unacceptable”.

Macron is said to have responded by saying that President Putin was lying.

In the conversation, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia intends to continue the “relentless” fight against what he calls “radical armed nationalist groups,” according to the Kremlin.

He also said that any attempt to delay negotiations would only increase demands on Kyiv from Russia.

conversations in Belarus

Putin also told Macron that he did not agree with what the French president said in Wednesday’s address to the nation. Macron then said, among other things, that the invasion of Ukraine meant a “new era” for Europe and that European countries should equip defense and energy production.

Russia and Ukraine are holding the second round of talks on Thursday in the Brest region of Belarus, near the border with Poland. Monday’s first talks did not lead to any known breakthroughs.