French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday at the opening of a peace summit in Rome that "peace is possible" in Ukraine when "the Ukrainians decide it."
The French president spoke of "a possible peace, provided that the Ukrainians have decided on its terms and timing."
He added that there is a possibility of peace, which will emerge at some point, given how things develop.
On Friday in Brussels, Macron renewed his invitation to Kyiv and Moscow to return to the negotiating table when it becomes "acceptable" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but also "as soon as possible."
This position exposed the French president to criticism, but he took advantage of his speech on Sunday in front of hundreds of political and religious officials coming from around the world to participate in the forum, to defend his position.
"Talking and calling for peace now can be intolerable for those who are fighting for their freedom and may give them a sense of betrayal," he said.
But he stressed the need to have the "courage" to "want peace," even if "perception of peace in wartime" is "the most unimaginable thing."
Paris has repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping Western diplomatic channels with Moscow open.
Macron has also been keen, since the start of the conflict in Ukraine last February, to communicate with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, unlike other Western officials, especially US President Joe Biden.
The French president arrived this afternoon in Rome, to be received by Pope Francesco on Monday at the Vatican.