France not to accept Russia's annexation of Crimea

By Murat Unlu

PARIS (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France would not accept Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Paris, Macron said France was committed to Ukraine's sovereignty with its recognized borders.

Macron said he conveyed to Poroshenko that France wanted the implementation of the February 2015 Minsk Agreement for ending the violence between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The implementation of the cease-fire agreement remains stalled after more than two years.

Poroshenko said he expected the next "Normandy format" talks between France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia to be held at the end of June or at the beginning of July, adding he was "more optimistic" about the issue following his meeting with Macron.

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.

This followed violent anti-government protests which led to the overthrow of then-President Victor Yanukovich.

The UN General Assembly later voted to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., the EU, and Turkey also do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.