Russia's war on Ukraine 'a return to age of imperialism, colonies': French president

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Russia’s war on Ukraine has taken the world back “to the age of imperialism and colonies,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

“What we’ve seen since Feb. 24 is a return to the age of imperialism and colonies. France rejects this and will determinedly work for peace,” Macron said in his speech at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

“Those who are keeping silent today are in a way complicit with a cause of a new imperialism,” he said, criticizing countries that have remained neutral over the Ukraine war.

“We must make a simple choice: that of war or that of peace.”

Macron warned that Russia’s actions have paved the way for “other wars in Europe today and perhaps tomorrow in Asia, or in Africa, or in Latin America.”

The French president said he has been pursuing dialogue with Russia since the start of the war and will continue to do so.

“It’s only together that we will find peace,” he asserted.