Macron says 'too early' to consider lifting Russia sanctions

French President Emmanuel Macron said it was "much too early" to consider lifting sanctions against Russia. Moscow has sought to get sanctions relief in exchange for peace deal guarantees.

Macron made the remarks alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Paris.

"We're not going to lift the sanctions, so it's much too early. Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia's choice of aggression, and, therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russia's choice to comply with international law," he said alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron also announced that France would provide some €2 billion ($2.15 billion) of extra military aid to Ukraine.

Among the new military equipment were anti-tank missiles, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles and drones, Macron said. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would evaluate Russia's demands in return for agreements with Ukraine.

Rubio cautioned that a peace deal would take time.

"It won't be simple. It'll take some time, but at least we're on that road and we're talking about these things," Rubio told a news conference.

The remarks came after the US reached an agreement in separate talks with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at the Black Sea, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

The European Union says the withdrawal of Moscow's forces from Ukraine would be one of the main conditions to end or change EU sanctions on Russia.

"The end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions to amend or lift sanctions," a European Commission spokesperson said.

Bloc members renewed the bloc's two sanctions frameworks on Russia for another six months at the end of January and earlier this month.

Any changes would need unanimity among its 27 member states.

The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets. In the deal with Russia, Washington agreed to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said his government provisionally plans to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

It's a bigger and faster ramp-up than previously planned as part of Sweden's biggest rearmament since the Cold War.

The Nordic country, which has not been at war for two centuries, has already doubled defense allocations in the past four years and last year joined the NATO military alliance in light of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The boost would increase defense spending by about 300 billion kronor ($30 billion, €27.6 billion) over the next decade.

Defense spending has so far been projected to reach 2.4% of GDP this year and 2.6% in 2028.

However, government ministers have acknowledged more will be needed after warnings that European security is no longer be the primary focus of the US.

"It is difficult to know exactly where it will land. We are pushing for it to be high enough to significantly increase the European NATO countries' ability to defend Europe," Kristersson said.

A senior Ukrainian presidential official says Russia has attacked at least eight Ukrainian energy facilities since Moscow says it halted such attack on March 18.

Speaking on national television, Ihor Zhovkva also said that, contrary to Russian statements, no preconditions were discussed with US officials as they agreed a Black Sea truce.

The Kremlin said earlier that several conditions must be met before the Black Sea maritime security deal negotiated with the United States can be activated.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed the readiness of the military alliance to defend its allies and added that any attack would be met with the strongest response.

"If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance."

"Our reaction will be devastating This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and anyone else who wants to attack us," said Rutte who was speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. 

"Reaffirming the commitment that NATO is obliged to defend Poland in any critical situation is very important for us," Tusk said.

Germany's foreign minister has welcomed US mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, but warned against being misled by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Annalena Baerbock said genuine dialogue could not occur when ceasefires are continually tied to new demands and concessions.

"It is also good that the United States is trying to take on a mediating role here. At the same time, we must not fool ourselves, and above all, we must not allow ourselves to be blinded by the Russian president," Baerbock said on the sidelines of a climate conference in Berlin.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday ahead of a summit of nations willing to help guarantee a possible peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

France and the United Kingdom have led an initiative to form a so-called "coalition of the willing" — countries prepared to offer security guarantees to Kyiv in any lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

The concept is to be finalized at a summit in Paris on Thursday.

Kyiv's Western allies are considering the monitoring of a possible demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine, according to information obtained by German news agency DPA.

Such monitoring would be primarily from the air and with the help of technical means such as satellites and drones.

Naval vessels could also be sent to monitor freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.

A peacekeeping force in the conventional sense could be mobilized through the United Nations made up exclusively of soldiers from non-partisan third countries. 

European forces could then be sent to Ukraine's western border and offer training programs for Ukrainian personnel. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says overnight Russian attacks with Iranian Shahed drones shows that Russia has no intention of pursuing peace.

"Last night, there were another 117 proofs in our skies of how Russia continues to drag out this war — 117 strike drones, most of them Shaheds. A significant number were shot down by our air defenders."

The attacks damaged infrastructure in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's home city, and the Dnipro, Sumy and Cherkasy regions.

"Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace," said Zelenskyy. 

"Since March 11, there has been a US proposal for a total ceasefire, a complete halt to strikes. And literally every night, through its attacks, Russia keeps saying 'no' to our partners' peace proposal."

In turn, Russia's Defence Ministry on Wednesday accused Ukraine of trying to attack civilian energy infrastructure in Russia. 

A court in Russia has found 23 captured Ukrainians guilty of terrorism charges stemming from the fighting in Ukraine.

Kyiv has denounced the trial as a sham and a violation of international law.

Among the defendants were 14 current or former fighters of the elite Azov Brigade, which Russia designated a terrorist group. They also include nine women who worked as cooks or support personnel.

Twelve defendants were not in court — 11 of them convicted in absentia after returning to Ukraine in two prisoner exchanges. Another died in custody last year.

All were charged with staging a violent coup d'etat and organizing activities of a terrorist organization. Some faced an extra charge of training to carry out terrorist activities.

They were handed sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years in prison.

This blog will bring you the latest coverage, analysis and multimedia content related to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron are set for talks in Paris ahead of a summit of countries willing to help with security guarantees.

The White House on Monday said Russia and Ukraine have agreed separately to avoid military strikes on vessels in the Black Sea. Russia has said the agreement is conditional on the lifting of some sanctions.

The apparent breakthrough came after the US participated in lengthy talks with Russian interlocutors in Saudi Arabia.