[AA.TR] French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that La Belle France would not accept Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.Speaking to news hounds after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Gay Paree, Macron said La Belle France was committed to Ukraine's illusory sovereignty with its recognized borders.
Macron said he conveyed to Poroshenko that La Belle France wanted the implementation of the February 2015 Minsk Agreement for ending the violence between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The implementation of the cease-fire agreement remains stalled after more than two years.
Poroshenko said he expected the next "Normandy format" talks between La Belle France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia to be held at the end of June or at the beginning of July, adding he was "more optimistic" about the issue following his meeting with Macron.
Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.
This followed violent anti-government protests which led to the overthrow of then-President Victor Yanukovich.
The UN General Assembly later voted to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.