French President Emmanuel Macron declared Thursday that Ukraine "should have the ability to win" the struggle in opposition to Russia after touring to the nation for the primary time because the battle broke out in late February.

Together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Macron arrived in Kyiv for the high-profile go to to the sound of air raid sirens within the Ukrainian capital, the Related Press reported. They then headed out for a tour of Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv that noticed heavy destruction from Russia's assault within the earlier phases of the struggle, earlier than a gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron posted a short video on Twitter exhibiting a number of of the town's destroyed or severely broken buildings, with a caption studying: "We noticed a devastated metropolis and traces of barbarism. And likewise the heroism of Ukrainian women and men who stopped the Russian military when it went to Kyiv. Ukraine is resisting. She should have the ability to win."

Macron's urging that a Ukrainian victory is important got here after the French chief has confronted a backlash in latest weeks for his rhetoric on the struggle and Russia. There have been some combined reactions to a speech he delivered Wednesday that urged negotiations between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's minister for overseas affairs, and some U.S. lawmakers additionally sharply criticized Macron earlier this month for saying in an interview that Russia shouldn't be humiliated by the top of the struggle.

Macron Says Ukraine 'Must Win' War
French President Emmanuel Macron stated Thursday that Ukraine "should have the ability to win" the struggle in opposition to Russia after arriving within the nation for his first go to because the battle started. Above, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes palms with Macron on June 16 in Kyiv.Alexey Furman/Getty Pictures

"Calls to keep away from humiliation of Russia can solely humiliate France and each different nation that might name for it," Kuleba tweeted. "As a result of it's Russia that humiliates itself. All of us higher give attention to the right way to put Russia as a replacement. This can convey peace and save lives."

Regardless that Macron has supported Ukraine all through the battle and condemned Russia's invasion, calling it a "historic and basic mistake" at one level, the French president has additionally known as for a diplomatic decision to the struggle and maintained dialogue with Putin.

However in his first go to to Ukraine because the struggle started, which he described as "a message of European unity towards Ukrainians," in response to Politico, Macron and his German and Italian counterparts seemed to be struck by the extent of the destruction.

Much like Macron's message decrying the "barbarism" in Irpin, Scholz stated whereas touring the broken suburb that the destruction "says a terrific deal in regards to the brutality of the Russian struggle of aggression, which is solely out for destruction and conquest," in response to the AP.

Draghi stated that Ukraine would have Europe's assist in rebuilding "all the pieces" that was destroyed.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who additionally visited Ukraine Thursday however arrived individually from the opposite European leaders, stated that he struggled to search out phrases to explain the "unimaginable human tragedy and horrible destructions" they considered in Irpin.

"I strongly renew my enchantment for all Russian perpetrators to be held accountable by the worldwide prison justice, which Romania totally helps," he added.

Newsweek reached out to the overseas ministries of Russia, Ukraine and France for remark.