Macron refuses to term Russia's assault on Ukraine 'genocide'

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to term Russia's offensive in Ukraine ‘genocide’ and said that the people of both countries are fraternal. Speaking to broadcaster France 2, Macron on Wednesday said, “I would be discreet with terms ... Russians and Ukrainians are fraternal peoples. What is happening is madness, this is a return to war in Europe; but, at the same time, I am looking at the facts, I want to try as much as possible to stop this war and restore peace.” “I would say that Russia unilaterally unleashed the most brutal war, that it is now established that war crimes were committed by the Russian army and that it is now necessary to find those responsible and make them face justice,” Macron said and added it was best to be careful with terminology on genocide in this situation.

The French president also told that he is planning to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and possibly with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin soon. His comments come in the backdrop of United States President Joe Biden calling the nearly two-month-old war in Ukraine ‘genocide’. The Kremlin, severely censured Biden's remarks and said that his genocide claim is wrong and unacceptable.  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “We consider this kind of effort to distort the situation unacceptable,”