Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has invited his French counterpart to visit Ukraine to see for himself evidence that Russian forces have committed “genocide”, a term that President Emmanuel Macron has avoided.
“I spoke to him yesterday,” Zelensky told CNN in an interview recorded Friday but aired on Sunday.
“I just told him that I want him to understand that this is not war, but nothing but genocide. I invited him to come when he has the opportunity. He will come and see, and I’m sure he will.” will understand.”
Zelensky said he also thought that US President Joe Biden would come at some point, although White House officials have said there are no plans to do so.
The Ukrainian leader said he believes Macron is shying away from using the word “genocide” – a term that Biden has now used in relation to the war in Ukraine – because he thinks it will harm Russia. The chances of diplomatic engagement with
Ukraine’s president has previously said that Macron’s refusal to use the position was “very painful for us”.
Macron is in the heat of his election campaign and a second round of voting against right-wing leader Marine Le Pen is set to take place next Sunday.
He told France’s Radio Blue on Thursday that it was not helpful for Ukraine to “enter into verbal escalation without drawing all the conclusions”.
The word “genocide” has a meaning” and “needs to be portrayed legally, not by politicians.”
Zelensky said in his CNN interview that he would also like to see Biden travel to Ukraine.
A growing list of European leaders in shows of support, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have made their way to Kyiv.
After Johnson visited the ravaged Ukrainian city of Buka – where officials say scores of civilians were “simply shot in the streets” – he said the evidence of massacres by Russian soldiers “to me nothing less than genocide”. seem.”
Regarding Biden’s possible visit, Zelensky said, “I think he’ll come,” but it’s his decision, of course, and about the security situation, it depends.
“But I think he is the leader of the United States, and so he should come here to see him.”
US officials say they are considering sending an envoy to Kyiv, but for now have ruled out a high-risk visit by the 79-year-old president.
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