Barrot made the comments in response to Russia’s massive combined strike on Kyiv during the night of June 17. “A deadly attack in Ukraine by the Putin regime, whose cruelty and cynicism know no bounds.

Vladimir Putin and the Russian government are now demanding that Ukraine destroy all Western-supplied weapons used on the battlefield as a condition for reaching a peace agreement. This latest demand adds to a growing list of preconditions set by the Kremlin for ending the war.

Zelensky claims his troops ‘gradually pushing back’ Putin’s forces in Sumy - Russian forces seeking to create 'buffer zone' in Sumy after beating back Ukrainian incursion into Kursk

"A deadly attack in Ukraine by the Putin regime, whose cruelty and cynicism know no bounds," he said. “To the Kremlin, which would like to establish peace in the Middle East: start with Ukraine.” The diplomat also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in Kyiv by the Russian strike.

Donald Trump sparked backlash on Monday for defending Russian President Vladimir Putin during remarks at the G-7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Sir Keir Starmer has promised to keep “tightening the screws” on Vladimir Putin as he announced a raft of fresh sanctions on dozens of new Russian finance, military and energy targets. The prime minister is piling fresh pressure on the Russian war machine and seeking to win further backing from G7 leaders at a key summit in Canada.