Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that he had discussed his visit to China with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, whose recent comments have drawn criticism in Europe and the United States.
• Also read: The case of Macron
• Also read: China accuses the US of exploiting tensions on the Korean Peninsula
• Also read: Ukraine: Beijing must urge Moscow to “end the war,” Germany claims
“I had a conversation of almost an hour and a half with French President Emmanuel Macron (…). The results of President Macron’s recent visit to China were discussed,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
Mr Macron caused an uproar at the end of his state visit to China when he said Europe should not automatically ally itself with the United States or Beijing in the event of a dispute over Taiwan.
He then explained that being an “ally” of the United States does not necessarily mean being a “vassal.”
His visit to China was marked by discussions about the war in Ukraine, Beijing being a close partner of Moscow.
Mr Zelensky also said on Saturday he had expressed his “gratitude” to Mr Macron for “condemning the horrific inhumane execution of a Ukrainian soldier by Russian war criminals”.
This alleged execution was revealed in a viral video showing a Russian-speaking person in uniform beheading with a knife what appears to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war, images that have caused shock and outrage in Ukraine and the West.
Russian authorities said Thursday they are examining the footage for authenticity.