Macron pledges Zelensky continued support for Ukraine and accuses Russia of escalation

Paris, October 5 -- French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a phone call on Monday, that France will continue its support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, accusing Moscow of “rejecting all calls to end the war.” Macron stated on the X platform that he emphasized to Zelenskyy during the call that “France and Europe will continue to shoulder their responsibilities by supporting Ukraine and striving to seize every opportunity to spare civilians from suffering, de-escalate fighting, and advance toward a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine’s rights and enhances security on our continent.” Macron added, “As Russia faces a dead end on the front lines, it is stubbornly rejecting all calls for a ceasefire and making an irresponsible choice to intensify strikes against infrastructure and civilian targets, in blatant violation of the most basic principles of international humanitarian law.” He said he discussed with Zelenskyy “ways to provide tangible support to help Ukraine intercept drones and counter Russian aggression.” (End) M.B. / H.S.