Macron suggested Ukraine give up some sovereignty to allow Putin to save face, Zelensky says | Top stories

According to Zelensky, Macron’s attempts to find an “exit ramp” for Russia are futile. Until Russia realizes that it needs a way out, it will not look for reasonable ways to end the war.

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“Maybe Emmanuel (Macron) knows more (than me); I know he wanted to achieve something by mediating between us (Ukraine and Russia), but he failed; did not fail because of our position, but that of Russia,” Zelensky said.

“It is inappropriate for world leaders to suggest that I should make certain sacrifices in terms of Ukraine’s sovereignty, in order to allow Putin to save face.”

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The president added that Ukraine “is not ready to save anything for anyone by ceding territory”.

“I think it’s totally unjustified; it’s a waste of time,” Zelensky said.

He reiterated that Russia’s contempt for any compromise in its favor was evidenced by the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

“Emmanuel (Macron) should refrain from certain diplomatic gestures; I saluted his (recent) re-election,” the president said.

“History, however, does not forgive sidesteps; if you’re looking to take back what’s yours, there’s only one way to move on: move on.

Macron had several long phone calls with his Russian counterpart in the first weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After a month-long hiatus, the French and Russian presidents met on May 3, with Macron pleading with Putin to allow the evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

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In April, Macron called Russia’s conduct in Ukraine a war crime, but refrained from calling it genocide and said Russians and Ukrainians were “brotherly” people.

At the same time, the French president supports the arming of Ukraine and the imposition of new sanctions on Moscow.