According to him, France is doing “everything possible to help Ukraine defeat Russia.”
“...Because (I will say very simply) there can be no lasting peace... unless there is a return to the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine, including Crimea,” Macron said.
Earlier, French MP Arnaud Le Gall from the Unbowed France faction accused Macron of incompetence, commenting on the interview with the head of state.
In September 2022, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that Crimea is an integral part of Russia and claims to Russian territory will receive a proper response.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that the issue of Crimea is closed for Russia, and the referendum on the peninsula was held in strict accordance with international law.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum took place there in March 2014: the majority of residents were in favor of reunification with Russia.