A discussion at the top. The Ukrainian and French presidents discussed Emmanuel Macron's visit to China on Saturday, as well as "next steps" for a peace summit. "I had a conversation of almost an hour and a half with French President Emmanuel Macron," Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram. "The results of President Macron's recent visit to China were discussed. The latter had drawn criticism in Europe and the United States following his state visit to China by saying that Europe should not automatically align itself with the United States or Beijing in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
Emmanuel Macron then said that being an "ally" of the United States did not necessarily mean being a "vassal". His visit to China had been dominated by discussions of the war in Ukraine, with Beijing being a close partner of Moscow. "The two presidents discussed the next steps in organizing a summit for peace," said the French presidency.
Volodymyr Zelensky also said he expressed his "gratitude" to Emmanuel Macron for "condemning the terrible inhumane execution of a Ukrainian soldier by Russian war criminals". This alleged execution was revealed in a viral video showing a Russian-speaking individual in uniform beheading with a knife a person who appeared to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Images that caused shock and indignation in Ukraine and in the West.
Russian authorities said Thursday they are examining the footage to determine its authenticity. President Macron reiterated that "France stands alongside the Ukrainian and international courts so that no crime committed in the context of Russian aggression goes unpunished", according to the Élysée.
