Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine is a "triple failure for Russia", President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday to mark the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the Western-backed country. France is an unwavering supporter of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, but its diplomatic efforts are limited in a fractured Europe.
Macron has become one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters within the European Union and one of the fiercest critics of Russia.
"This war is a triple failure for Russia: militarily, economically and strategically," Macron said on X, underlining that 15,000 Ukrainian civilians had been killed in the four years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion on 24 February, 2022.
"One day, Russians will realise the enormity of the crime committed in their name, the futility of the pretexts invoked and the devastating long-term effects on their country."
The French president reiterated France's unwavering support for Ukraine.
"Because Ukraine is the first line of defence of our continent, France and Europe stand resolutely by its side," he wrote.
France now supplies most of Ukraine’s intelligence, Macron says
Allies divided
On Monday, Macron urged his European counterparts to “continue to increase pressure on Russia" by imposing a fresh package of sanctions – the 20th so far. He also called for the rapid implementation of a €90bn European loan for Ukraine.
But Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow, had on Monday kept up its veto on both.
Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia accuse Kyiv of deliberately blocking Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine says it is trying to repair after a Russian strike last month.
Zelensky French TV interview: 'If Ukraine doesn't stop Putin, he will invade Europe'
As part of ceremonies in Kyiv to mark the anniversary of the Russian invasion, President Zelensky was due to welcome dignitaries in Kyiv from Western Europe, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
But unlike previous years, no major Western leaders were expected.
"Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken the Ukrainian people. He has not won this war," Zelensky said in a morning address, extending an invitation to US President Donald Trump to come to Kyiv.
Putin failed to achieve goals in Ukraine, Zelensky says on war anniversary
Zelensky vowed the country would not betray the sacrifices made by its people in four years of war just to make peace with Russia.
Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the US met Friday in Abu Dhabi for the first direct negotiations on a US-brokered peace deal to end the war.
(with newswires)
