Macron announced the decision of the participants of the summit on Ukraine to maintain sanctions against Russia

The participants of the summit on the conflict in Ukraine in Paris unanimously decided that the time for lifting anti-Russian sanctions has not yet come. This was announced on March 27 by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We also unanimously agreed that now is not the time to lift sanctions against Russia, however. There can be no policy of lifting sanctions before peace [in the conflict in Ukraine] is clearly established," he said at a press conference broadcast by France 24 television channel.

He pointed out that other states participating in the summit share this position, but stressed that there is no legal basis for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. According to the French president, their fate will be decided within the framework of the negotiation process on the restoration of Ukraine. He also pointed out the need for dialogue with the Russian Federation after resolving the crisis.

The French leader added that the countries agreed to instruct the foreign ministers to prepare proposals within three weeks to monitor compliance with a possible ceasefire in the conflict.

Macron also announced his intention to send a French-British group to Ukraine to work closely on the format of training the Ukrainian army in the future.

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At a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 26, Macron said that discussion of lifting sanctions against Russia was possible only within the framework of a long-term peace agreement, and not a temporary cease-fire. He clarified that at some point the issue of sanctions will be raised, but "it is premature."