"Not the time for negotiations": Macron on war in Ukraine

He said this in an interview with Les Echos.

This is how the French president answered a journalist's question about what to expect from China regarding Ukraine.

"I think that China makes the same observation as we do, namely that today the weather is military. The Ukrainians are resisting, and we are helping them. This is not the time for negotiations, even if we are preparing them and if we need to set milestones," said Macron.

He noted that the purpose of his dialogue with China is to consolidate joint approaches to war. He emphasized that China should draw conclusions from the fact that Putin plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus.

"Firstly: upholding the principles of the UN Charter. Secondly: a clear reminder of nuclear power – it is China that must draw conclusions about the fact that President Putin has deployed nuclear weapons in Belarus days after pledging not to do so. Thirdly: a very clear reminder of humanitarian law and the protection of children. And fourthly, the intention to achieve lasting peace through negotiations," the president emphasized.

Macron noted that Xi Jinping also spoke about European security architecture.

"But there can be no European security architecture as long as there are invasions of other countries or frozen conflicts in Europe.”

• At a meeting with Macron on April 6 in Beijing, Xi Jinping called for peace talks regarding Ukraine to be started as soon as possible.

• Earlier, the media reported that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron were to hold additional informal talks on April 7. It is not known what exactly the politicians were talking about.