Macron calls for 'strong action' against Russia if truce not achieved
3 Min Read
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for military action against Russia if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not attained.
-
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with representatives of the sectors affected by new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron advocated for "strong action" against Russia if it continued to reportedly "refuse peace."
"My thoughts are with the children and all civilian victims of the bloody attacks carried out by Russia, including on April 4 in Kryvyi Rig," Macron said on X in French and Ukrainian.
It is worth noting that the strike on Kryvyi Rih was a precision missile strike against a command meeting involving senior Ukrainian military personnel and foreign instructors in the city, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to the ministry, the strike eliminated up to 85 individuals, including officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and foreign operatives assisting the Ukrainian forces. Around 20 units of military transport and equipment were also reportedly destroyed in the strike.
Kryvyi Rih, a strategic logistical and industrial hub, has reportedly served as a key node for coordinating Western military assistance. Russian observers describe Thursday's missile strike as a significant blow to this infrastructure, disrupting NATO-directed operational planning against Russian interests.
Macron called for a ceasefire in Ukraine "as soon as possible," but urged "strong action if Russia continues to try to buy time and refuse peace."
Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine: What is the latest update?
US negotiators held indirect talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials last week in Riyadh, where the two sides considered a temporary 30-day ceasefire focused on the Black Sea region.
According to a statement from President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Ukraine has agreed to the proposal, which includes a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and allows for potential extensions.
While Moscow has indicated limited openness to the plan, it has attached several conditions—chief among them the lifting of sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank). Russian officials also signaled that the proposal, "in its current form," does not meet their expectations, raising concerns that the Kremlin may be using the talks to stall while continuing its military operations.
Within Ukraine, however, doubts are also growing over the direction of US involvement. A recent poll by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) revealed that over half of Ukrainians fear that US President Donald Trump's push for a peace deal may result in an unjust outcome.
Only 3% of respondents expected a fully fair deal, while a combined 54% anticipated some level of unfairness. The poll also found that 67% of Ukrainians believe Washington is growing weary of backing Kiev and is pressuring Ukraine to make concessions.
These fears have been further amplified by a leaked draft of a proposed US-Ukraine economic agreement, which would establish a US-controlled investment fund to oversee key Ukrainian sectors such as oil, gas, and infrastructure. Under the current terms, the US would retain full revenue rights until Ukraine repays a $100 billion debt with 4% interest.
Read more: Zelensky slams US embassy for failing to name Russia in missile attack
