Macron: Ukraine's referendums are "funny" and "a farce"
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that referendums to be held in Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine on joining them would not be recognized by the international community, describing such plans as "funny" and "a farce".
"If the idea of the Donbass referendum is not tragic, it will be funny," he told reporters.
Speaking from New York, Macron said the referendum proposals for eastern Ukraine were an additional provocation in the wake of Russia's invasion of its neighbour.
"I think what Russia has announced is a farce. This is a disdain, and it is clearly something that the international community will not recognize," the French president added.
The leaders installed by Russia in the four Ukrainian regions it captured had drawn up plans for referendums on joining Russia, a move Kyiv rejected as a ploy by Moscow to try to regain control after heavy battlefield losses.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news