French President Emmanuel Macron, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace, stated on Friday that Russia ‘is mistaken’ if it hopes the war in the Middle East will provide a ‘respite’ from the conflict in Ukraine. Macron emphasized that ‘nothing will divert us from Ukraine.’ The meeting, which took place on March 13, 2026, focused on the ongoing war, the impact of international sanctions, and continued support for Ukraine.
Macron Rejects Notion of Russian Respite
Macron directly addressed the implications of the Middle East conflict on the war in Ukraine. ‘Today, Russia may believe that the war in Iran will offer it a respite. It is mistaken,’ he declared. He further stressed the G7’s unified stance on sanctions: ‘The context of rising oil prices must under no circumstances lead to a review of our sanctions policy towards Russia; this is the position held by the G7.’
This statement comes despite the United States, a G7 member, having temporarily authorized the sale of Russian oil stored on ships until April 11, amidst surging crude prices. Russia, a major hydrocarbon producer, relies on these revenues to fund its war efforts in Ukraine, where it launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Temporary US Sanction Lift Causes Concern
Emmanuel Macron, however, characterized the American decision as ‘exceptional and limited,’ asserting that it ‘does not sustainably and broadly reverse the sanctions they themselves decided’ within the G7 framework. Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, viewed the move as a ‘strengthening of Russia’s position’ that ‘certainly does not contribute to peace.’
According to the Ukrainian president, this ‘easing’ of sanctions could provide Russia with ‘approximately 10 billion dollars,’ which he fears will be spent on drones and other weaponry. Zelensky warned that these drones are not only used in Ukraine but also against ‘Iran’s neighbors,’ an ally of Moscow, and Western forces in the region. ‘Lifting sanctions just so more drones come to attack you later is, in my opinion, not the right decision,’ he stated.
Ukraine’s Expertise in Combating Iranian Drones
The visit of the Ukrainian president to Paris, his twelfth since 2022, occurred as the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 monopolizes global attention. A French soldier was killed and six were wounded on Thursday evening in an attack by an Iranian-designed drone in Iraqi Kurdistan. French authorities confirmed it was a Shahed drone, the same type used almost daily by Russia in Ukraine.
Ukraine intends to leverage its ‘unparalleled expertise’ in combating Iranian drones, a capability recognized by the Élysée. Ukrainian military specialists have recently visited several Gulf countries to share their experience in intercepting Iranian-designed drones, and Volodymyr Zelensky proposed ‘to develop all this in collaboration with European countries.’
Discussions on EU Aid and Arms
Macron and Zelensky held a joint press conference and a working lunch. The two leaders also discussed the 90 billion euro loan promised by European Union leaders to Kyiv in December. The initial disbursements are currently blocked by Hungary, which demands that Ukraine quickly reopen the delivery of Russian oil to Hungarian territory via the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukrainian authorities claim was damaged by a Russian strike.
Macron firmly assured that the loan would be disbursed because ‘it is the duty of every Nation to keep the promises that are made.’ The issue is set to be discussed again at an EU summit next week in Brussels. Another key item on the agenda was Ukraine’s need for weaponry.
President Zelensky, who requires high-performance anti-aircraft defense systems to counter Russian attacks, told the newspaper Ouest-France that he wants to obtain the new generation Franco-Italian SAMP-T systems ‘as quickly as possible.’ Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a Russian missile strike in the Kharkiv region early Friday resulted in at least three deaths and four injuries, according to local authorities.
