Macron slams Russia’s ‘irresponsible’ strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned Russia ramping up strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, calling it "irresponsible" after speaking with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on ways to bolster support for Kyiv.

Russia "has made the irresponsible choice to intensify its strikes on civilian infrastructure and targets", Macron said on X. 

He said Zelensky and he reviewed "the concrete support we can provide" to help Ukraine intercept drones and defend itself against Russia's attacks.

"We will yield neither to intimidation nor to Russia's escalation," Macron said, accusing Moscow of "stubbornly refusing all calls for a ceasefire".

Moscow announced at the weekend that it would step up its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

Zelensky has made repeated calls on Ukraine's Western allies for better air-defence weaponry to combat the increasingly deadly barrage of drone and missile strikes.

Kyiv has also expressed interest in producing Patriot missile systems under US licence in the future, though the status of any such arrangement remains unclear.

Over the weekend Russia issued a fresh warning to foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv, saying "massive" new airstrikes would hit the capital.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Kyiv on Sunday to demonstrate his support and pledge additional financial assistance to Ukraine. 

Read moreMerz unveils new aid for Ukraine as Russia strikes Kyiv during German leader's visit

Efforts to end Europe's worst conflict since World War II have been at a standstill, while both Moscow and Kyiv have vowed to intensify long-range attacks against military and related targets.

Russian drone strikes sink Turkish ship in Black Sea, Ukraine says

Macron's condemnation came as Russian drones carried out a deadly attack on a grain ship in the Black Sea, Zelensky said, after Romania reported a ship had caught fire and sunk near its coast with two crew killed.

"A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn," Zelensky said in a post on X, adding that the ship was Turkish-owned and Azerbaijani and Indian nationals were on board.

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Romanian authorities said two crew had died and 11 were rescued after the the 139 metre (455 feet)-long Royad Mammadov caught fire in the Black Sea, increasingly a battlefield for drone attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The interior ministry said it sank about 30 nautical miles south of the fishing port of Sfantu Gheorghe.

"At around 11:00, coast guard border police officers were informed that a fire had broken out on board a commercial vessel located within Romania's exclusive economic zone," the ministry said in a statement.

"Eleven crew members have been rescued. Two deceased persons have also been identified," it added.

Zelensky said the ship's captain was killed in the strike.

Russia strikes another bridge in Kyiv, causing transport chaos in Ukraine capital

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Drone activity has become increasingly frequent across eastern Europe as Ukraine, which borders NATO member Romania, fights off a Russian invasion launched in 2022. More and more, both countries rely on drone warfare.

Turkey has expressed concern over the attacks on Black Sea shipping and Turkish seafarers have staged protests over deaths suffered in the attacks.