In a telephone conversation, Macron demands that Putin cease aggression; EU sets sanctions

Macron lembrou a Putin que seu país está exposto “a sanções massivas” pela ofensiva militar na Ucrânia

Macron reminded Putin that his country is exposed to “massive sanctions” for the military offensive in Ukraine| Photo: EFE/EPA/YVES HERMAN

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, demanded this Thursday (02 ), during a telephone conversation, that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, “immediately” cease military operations in Ukraine.

Macron called Putin after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and relayed this message in agreement with the latter.

According to the Élysée Palace, seat of the French presidency, Macron reminded Putin that his country is exposed “to massive sanctions” for the military offensive in Ukraine, launched on a large scale in the early hours of this Thursday.

The French presidency detailed that Macron called the Russian president upon his arrival at the European Council in Brussels, before the start of the meeting of the leaders of the the European Union (EU).

The community bloc gave the signal green this Thursday to new sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, covering the financial, energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods, as well as export control and visa policy.

The conclusions approved at this summit further specify that the list of Russian individuals affected by community sanctions will be expanded .

After the approval of the leaders, these sanctions must follow the formal procedure necessary for them to be adopted and come into force, with a next step this Friday (02) at an extraordinary council of foreign ministers in Brussels.