Emmanuel Macron replied this Thursday on France Blue on the use of the word “genocide” in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had estimated the day before the French president’s refusal to denounce a “genocide” in Ukraine by the Russian army “very hurtful”.
Guest of Wendy Bouchard on the show “My France”, and questioned on the subject, Emmanuel Macron believes that “Words have meaning and we all have to be very careful”stating that his role is to“Avoid escalation at all costs and protect the French men and women from a prolongation of the war.”
“The word genocide has a meaning” justifies Emmanuel Macron
Asked about a visit to Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron believes that: “the time will come.” “I think traveling should not just be to see things, but to do something. So I’ve always said I’ll do it if it’s useful” assures Emmanuel Macron.
“Now we were all struck by the images of Boutcha last week, he adds. We were all struck by the scenes we see in Mariupol, which condemned France with great clarity. We have sent magistrates and gendarmes to help Ukraine document these war crimes and start the trials. That’s how we should do it. The word genocide has a meaning and the word genocide today has to be qualified by lawyers, not politicians. And I get everyone’s attention. If it is a genocide, the states that consider it a genocide must intervene according to international convention. Is that what people want, become co-belligerent? I do not believe”.
“Such comments are very hurtful to us,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
The French President’s refusal on Wednesday to… “genocide” in Ukraine by the Russian military is “very hurtful,” claimed Volodymyr Zelensky. “If true, such comments are very hurtful to us,” he said. Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a press conference on Wednesday. “I will do my best to discuss this matter with Mr Macron today. If not, tomorrow, when he finds the time,” added the Ukrainian president.
Earlier in the day, Emmanuel Macron had chosen not to use the term “genocide” his US counterpart Joe Biden used to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of in Ukraine. “I would say that Russia has unilaterally started a brutal war, that war crimes have now been established by the Russian army and that we now need to find those responsible,” he said. declared Emmanuel Macron initially.
“Yeah, I called it genocide,” Joe Biden said
US President Joe Biden first accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of committing a “genocide” in Ukraine on Tuesday, the day regional authorities in the southeast of the country assessed the number of casualties with at least 20,000 dead. since the end of February. The word was previously used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but never by the US government: “Yes, I called it a genocide”Joe Biden told reporters on a trip to Iowa hours after he mentioned the term during a speech devoted to the fight against inflation.
