Negotiations possible only if sovereign Ukraine wants it and Russia accepts them in good faith – Macron

KYIV. Sept 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation are possible only if sovereign Ukraine wants it, and Russia accepts them in good faith, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.

"Today, we all here realize that only an agreement that respects international law will allow peace to be restored. Negotiations are possible only if sovereign Ukraine wants it, and Russia accepts them in good faith. We all also understand that negotiations can only be successful if Ukraine is liberated and its sovereignty is protected," Macron said, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

The French president stressed that now Russia must see that it cannot impose its will militarily, even if it holds fake referendums in the territories that have been bombed and are now occupied.

"The members of the Security Council must say this loud and clear, and the members of this assembly must support us on our path to peace. From this rostrum, I call on the members of the UN to act so that Russia abandons the path of war and assesses the cost for itself and for all of us and really puts an end to this act of aggression," Macron said.

He pointed out that since the beginning of the war he has been in dialogue with Russia.

"I will continue to lead this, because only together we will find peace," the president added.