The Foreign Minister of Ukraine has condemned France’s president for saying the West should not “humiliate” the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said during an interview with local French newspapers Friday that Putin has made a “historic error” in the invasion of Ukraine, but global powers should not “humiliate Russia, so that when the war stops, we can build a way out jointly via diplomatic routes.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted in response, “Calls to avoid the humiliation of Russia can only humiliate France & every other country that would call for it. … We all better focus on how to put Russia in its place. This will bring peace and save lives.”
Earlier, Mr Macron told French regional media that Russia’s leader had “isolated himself”.
“I think, & I said to him, that he made a historic as well as fundamental error for his public, for himself and for history,” he said.
He further added, “Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi has aligned himself with Macron, suggesting Europe wants “some credible negotiations”.