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Macron explained to Zelenskyy the reason for his opposition to the accusation of genocide in Ukraine
Friday, 15 April 2022 (YJC)_ In talks with the Ukrainian president, the French president reiterated his opposition to using the word genocide to describe events in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.
According to the Tass news agency, Macron said in the phone call that he was against the use of the word "genocide" out of respect for what was happening in Ukraine.
In an interview with French radio station Bleu, Macron added:
I gave him a direct answer and said that lawyers, not politicians, should determine whether the word genocide can be used or not. If it is genocide, then countries that think so must intervene in accordance with international conventions. But I do not think they want that.
The French president, who is currently campaigning in the second round of the French presidential election, also said:
One is to help, and the other is to increase tensions with phrases that do not make much sense.
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing genocide in Ukraine. He made the remarks during a speech in Iowa on efforts to counter rising fuel prices over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"I am wary of using such words these days because the two nations (Russia and Ukraine) are brothers," Macron had previously said in response to Biden's use of the phrase "genocide in Ukraine."
The President of France added:
I want to continue my efforts to stop the war and restore peace. I am not sure that intensifying the rhetoric will help to achieve this goal.
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