President Emmanuel Macron of France has issued a stern rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of duplicity in peace negotiations while continuing to wage war against Ukraine.
Speaking during a diplomatic visit to Madagascar on Thursday, Macron called out Putin for allegedly misleading U.S. negotiators by claiming he wants peace, even as Russian missiles continue to hit Ukrainian cities.
A strike on Kyiv earlier in the day killed at least nine people, one of the deadliest attacks on the capital since the invasion began over three years ago.
“The only thing to do is for President Putin to finally stop lying,” Macron said. “In Ukraine, they only want a single answer: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?”
The French president emphasized that a ceasefire could be immediate if Putin agreed to halt hostilities, placing sole responsibility for the continued bloodshed at the Kremlin’s doorstep.
“If President Putin says yes, the weapons will fall silent tomorrow, lives will be saved,” he declared.
Macron’s comments come as the U.S. steps up efforts to broker peace, despite growing frustration over stalled progress.
He urged Washington to direct its dissatisfaction solely at the Russian leader.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by suggesting that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, could be recognized as Russian territory under a future peace deal.
“Crimea was lost years ago,” Trump stated, calling the matter “not even a point of discussion” — a view welcomed by Moscow.
However, Macron diverged from that position, insisting that discussions should first focus on ending the conflict before addressing territorial disputes like Crimea.
“The priority must be a ceasefire. The question of Crimea is not for now,” he added.