The main presidential candidates condemned, Thursday, February 24, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, calling for diplomatic action and severe sanctions targeted against the Russian regime, even to deliver weapons to Kiev.

>> To read: Presidential: how Hidalgo and Jadot use the Ukrainian crisis to attack Mélenchon

On the right, LR candidate Valérie Pécresse condemned "the war launched by Russia against Ukraine".

"European Union sanctions must be immediate, severe, targeted and coordinated with the United States and the United Kingdom," she said in a tweet.

I condemn in the strongest terms the war started by Russia in #Ukraine.

Total solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

The response from France and Europe must be vigorous, coordinated and severe.

— Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) February 24, 2022

In a press release, far-right candidate Éric Zemmour "unreservedly condemned the Russian military intervention", and called on Emmanuel Macron, "as President Sarkozy did in August 2008 during the Georgian crisis , to travel without delay to Moscow and then to Kiev to negotiate an immediate ceasefire, the establishment of mediation and a peace negotiation".

I unreservedly condemn the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

pic.twitter.com/SbTsF98feN

— Eric Zemmour (@ZemmourEric) February 24, 2022

Her rival Marine Le Pen (RN), who had been received during the previous presidential campaign by Vladimir Putin and continues to repay a loan of around 9 million euros to a Russian creditor, called "for the immediate cessation of operations Russian military forces in Ukraine", an invasion which "upsets the balance of peace in Europe" and "must be unequivocally condemned".

She called for a diplomatic initiative from France "under the aegis of the UN".

No reason can justify the launch of a military operation against #Ukraine by #Russia which upsets the balance of peace in Europe.



It should unequivocally be condemned.

#UkraineRussiahttps://t.co/cxYU4jyKVr

– Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) February 24, 2022

On the left, the LFI candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon denounced in a press release the Russian operation in Ukraine, calling to refuse this "unbearable escalation".

It calls for "an immediate meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe" (OSCE) and an "urgent" deliberation of the UN to obtain "an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all troops of Ukraine".

"It's the war"

The environmental candidate Yannick Jadot pleaded in a press release also for France and the European Union to organize "deliveries of arms so that the Ukrainians can defend themselves and sanctions of an exceptional magnitude against Putin and his accomplices, in banished from the international community".

Vladimir Putin bears full and entire responsibility for this.



The response of France and of united Europe must be commensurate with this attack on democracy.



My release ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xxrUoaBgEe

— Yannick Jadot (@yjadot) February 24, 2022

Socialist candidate Anne Hidalgo "condemned in the strongest terms the brutal attack ordered by Vladimir Putin" and called in a tweet to "react firmly to this unjustified and criminal act".

I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal attack ordered by Vladimir Putin.

In these dark times for peace and for Europe, I express my solidarity and support with Ukraine and its people.

We must react firmly to this unjustified and criminal act.

— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) February 24, 2022

"Let us say the words: it is no longer an aggression, an attack, a violation of borders, it is war. It is at this height that France, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the 'OSCE and the UN must react", reacted for his part the former Minister of Justice and candidate Christiane Taubira on Twitter.

#UkraineRussia |

International law is violated.

Powerlessness cannot serve as an answer.

pic.twitter.com/NXVd1s84Nb

— Christiane Taubira (@ChTaubira) February 24, 2022

Communist candidate Fabien Roussel denounced on France 2 a "declaration of war" by Vladimir Putin and called for "do everything possible to disarm the armies (...), so that it does not go any further".

The Russian President chooses war.


He decides to violate international rules.



Everything must be done for the return of peace!#UkraineRussie pic.twitter.com/Pl0S2yDkD4

— Fabien Roussel (@Fabien_Roussel) February 24, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced overnight Wednesday to Thursday the start of a "military operation" in Ukraine, where powerful explosions and airborne warning sirens sounded in several cities, Kiev claiming that an "invasion on a large scale" was in progress.

Emmanuel Macron, who called on Moscow to "immediately put an end to its military operations", held a defense council at 9 a.m.

"France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands alongside the Ukrainians and works with its partners and allies to end the war," added the head of state in two tweets.

With AFP

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