Escalation of words could prevent ceasefire, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron is warning against the verbal escalation of the war in Ukraine, a day after his American counterpart Joe Biden described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a butcher and said he shouldn’t be allowed to remain in power.

Macron told French media the goal was for a ceasefire in Ukraine and then the withdrawal of Russian troops.

He said this wouldn’t be possible with an escalation through words or actions.

US authorities have denied Biden was calling for regime change in Russia following his unscripted comments during a visit to Poland.

Macron has maintained communication with the Russian president throughout the Ukraine crisis and said he would speak to Putin in the next two days to organise the evacuation of civilians from the heavily bombarded port city of Mariupol.