Conflicts & War

Macron: Russian strikes show ‘profound change’ in Ukraine war

Paris, Oct 10 (EFE).- French president Emmanuel Macron said Monday’s missile strikes by Russia on Ukrainian civilian targets imply a “profound change in the nature” of the war that has been raging since February.

The attacks, which saw Kyiv be bombarded for the first time in more than three months, have been seen as retaliation by Moscow for the Ukrainian army’s advances in recent days and last week’s partial destruction of the bridge linking Crimea to Russia.

Speaking with reporters during a visit to Mayenne in western France, Macron said he would be meeting with his military and diplomatic advisers upon his return to Paris on Monday afternoon to analyze the escalating situation.

“France condemns in the strongest terms these deliberate attacks by Russia on the whole of Ukrainian territory and against civilians, which are a profound change in the nature of this war,” he said.

Macron spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the cruise missile attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure on several parts of Ukraine, which killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more.

He expressed “extreme concern” over the bombings and “reaffirmed his full support for President Zelenskyy and France’s commitment to increase its support for Ukraine in response to the needs formulated by Kiev, including in terms of military equipment”, sources from the Elysée said.

Earlier on Monday, Zelenskyy took to Twitter to say that he had asked Macron to strengthen Ukraine’s air force and asked for “a tough European and international reaction”, as well as “increased pressure on Russia” in the wake of the escalation. EFE

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