Putin made ‘historic’ error in Ukraine: Macron

France's President Emmanuel Macron reacts at the Arc de Triomphe as part of the ceremonies marking the Allied victory against Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe (VE Day), in Paris, France, on 8 May 2022Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had committed a “historic and fundamental error” by invading Ukraine and was now “isolated”.

“I think, and I told him, that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history,” he said in an interview with French regional media.

“I think he has isolated himself,” Macron said. “Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path”.

The French president repeated that Russia should not be “humiliated... so that the day the fighting stops we can pave a way out through diplomatic means.”

Macron also said he did not “rule out” a visit to Kyiv.