PARIS (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (March 7) accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy and cynicism after Moscow stated it could open humanitarian corridors to permit the evacuation of civilians from a number of Ukrainian cities, however solely to Russia or Belarus.
“All this is not serious, it is moral and political cynicism, which I find intolerable,” Mr Macron instructed LCI tv in an interview.
He added that guarantees to guard civilians solely in order that they may flee in the direction of Russia had been “hypocritical”.
“I do not know many Ukrainians who want to go to Russia,” he added, saying that full ceasefires to guard civilians had been wanted slightly than corridors.
Moscow introduced the proposed escape routes from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol and Sumy after Mr Putin and Mr Macron spoke by phone on Sunday, saying the transfer was taken after a “personal request” by Mr Macron.
But the Elysee Palace stated no such request was made and Mr Macron accused Moscow of a “PR stunt” with its announcement.
Mr Macron warned the scenario in Ukraine was worsening by the day and worldwide makes an attempt to agree a ceasefire had to date failed.
He stated a prime precedence was to keep away from “catastrophes” with Ukraine’s nuclear energy vegetation after Europe’s largest atomic energy plant Zaporizhzhia was attacked and seized by invading Russian forces final week.
There are 4 lively nuclear vegetation within the nation in addition to the Chernobyl facility that was the location of the 1986 nuclear catastrophe.
But Mr Macron additionally insisted that “France is not at war with Russia”, including that “what we want is to stop this war without becoming belligerents ourselves”.
Mr Macron spoke to Mr Putin on Sunday for one hour and 45 minutes, the fourth time that they had spoken because the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24.
Russia would attain its targets in Ukraine “either through negotiation or through war”, Mr Putin instructed Mr Macron in accordance with a French presidential official, including the Russian president additionally pledged “it was not his intention” to assault Ukrainian nuclear websites.
Follow The Straits Times’ stay protection on the Ukraine disaster right here.
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