PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Ukraine needs to adopt a "realistic" stance on territorial issues as political momentum appears to gather in favor of opening peace talks with Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Ukraine Monday to have "realistic" expectations on territory as its fight against the Russian invasion heads into a fourth year, saying he saw no "quick and easy solution" to the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Jan. 6 called on Ukraine to have "realistic discussions on territorial issues" as they alone can conduct them, the French media reported.

In May 2023 at a CNN Town Hall meeting, Donald Trump, already well advanced in his campaign to become president of the United States again, said: “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want to stop them dying.

The Russia-Ukraine war has been escalating for nearly three years, with no sign of a ceasefire on the horizon. Moscow continues to intensify its efforts to obliterate war-torn Ukraine, leaving the world deeply concerned.