“Ukrainians are resisting, and we are helping them,” Macron said, three days after his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

“The time is not for negotiations, even if we prepare them we have to set milestones.”

Macron added that amid war-related threats, France and China should uphold the principles of the UN Charter, humanitarian law and the protection of children, as well as to have a “clear reminder” of nuclear energy security following Russia’s decision to place  nuclear weapons in Belarus.

“China will have to figure out the consequences of the fact that President Putin planted nuclear weapons in Belarus days after he promised not to,” Macron said.

On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia intends to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for training.

Why Ukraine chooses to negotiate on the battlefield, not at peace talks