According to the reports on Thursday (24 April), during a visit to Madagascar, French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of dishonesty regarding peace efforts in Ukraine. Macron stated that Putin continues to claim he wants peace while simultaneously launching deadly attacks, most recently a missile strike on Kyiv that killed at least nine people. He emphasized that the only viable path forward is for Putin to stop lying and commit to genuine peace.
The missile attack on Kyiv marked one of the deadliest assaults on the capital since the beginning of Russia’s invasion over three years ago. Macron used this incident to underline the contradiction in Russia’s statements and actions, arguing that Putin’s behavior casts serious doubt on US-led efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. He called on the international community to hold Putin accountable for prolonging the conflict.
Macron stressed that peace could be achieved immediately if Putin simply agreed to an unconditional ceasefire. He pointed out that the weapons would fall silent and lives could be saved with just one decision from the Russian leader. According to Macron, the United States and its allies are unified in their push for a halt in fighting, but Putin remains the key obstacle.
He also pushed back against comments by former US President Donald Trump, who suggested Crimea was “lost years ago” and not worth discussing. Macron disagreed, insisting that the first priority should be ending the violence, and that the status of Crimea should be dealt with only after achieving a ceasefire. His remarks signal France’s firm stance on upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty and rejecting any normalization of territorial occupation.
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