Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday for saying Russia shouldn't be humiliated for its invasion of Ukraine.

All through the widely-condemned Russian invasion, Macron has joined most European leaders in backing Ukraine and has sought to stability his help alongside efforts to mediate diplomacy between the 2 international locations because the warfare continues to rage on. He has additionally continued dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to proceed diplomacy in a war-torn Europe.

Throughout an interview with French media revealed Saturday, Macron spoke of France's function within the battle as a "mediating energy," including that he doesn't consider Russia must be humiliated by the tip of the warfare.

"We should not humiliate Russia in order that the day when the combating stops we will construct an exit ramp by way of diplomatic means," he mentioned, including that he informed Putin that the invasion is a "historic and elementary mistake for his individuals, for himself and for historical past."

Kuleba slams Macron's Russia comments
French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks that Russia shouldn't be humiliated had been blasted by Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday. Above, Macron is seen in Paris on October 9, 2018. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP through Getty Photographs

His feedback obtained pushback from Ukraine's Kuleba, who blasted his remarks in a tweet.

"Calls to keep away from humiliation of Russia can solely humiliate France and each different nation that might name for it. As a result of it's Russia that humiliates itself. All of us higher give attention to easy methods to put Russia as an alternative. This can carry peace and save lives," he wrote.

Macron's feedback echoed earlier remarks he made on Europe Day on Could 9.

"We should do that with Ukraine and Russia across the desk. The top of the dialogue and the negotiation will likely be set by Ukraine and Russia. But it surely is not going to be executed in denial, nor in exclusion of one another, nor even in humiliation," he mentioned, based on European information outlet Euractiv.

United States lawmakers additionally criticized Macron's assertion on Saturday on social media.

Consultant Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, tweeted that the French president is "humiliating himself."

"Russia has already been humiliated, and true to their popularity the French are attempting to boost the white flag," he wrote.

Consultant Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, tweeted: "This speech by Macron exhibits a elementary misunderstanding of Putin and the warfare in Ukraine. Russia is gaining floor in Ukraine, though slowly. Putin believes he's successful. There are solely two methods to cease this warfare. Let Ukraine lose. Or present Putin he can't win militarily."

As Macron seeks to help an eventual diplomatic finish to the warfare, world leaders have expressed conflicting viewpoints on what the tip will seem like.

Final month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyset situations for peace talks that included Russian forces being fully out of Ukrainian territory. In the meantime, U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austinmentioned final month solely Ukraine can decide the tip targets of the battle.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned there was "no level in holding negotiations" with Russia till their troops are pushed "way back to potential to the borders of Ukraine" when requested about Macron's mediation feedback on Saturday, based on Reuters.

Newsweek reached out to the French authorities for remark.