NNA - French President Emmanuel Macron stood besides Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hours after the latter's "heated" meeting in the White House with US President Donald Trump, which ended in a major rift in relations.

Macron became the first president to side with Zelensky after the "fiery meeting" that caused widespread uproar on Friday.

According to the French Press Agency, Macron commented on the exchange between Trump and Zelensky: “Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is under aggression."

He said: “We were right to help Ukraine and punish Russia three years ago, and we will continue to take this position.”

The French President stressed that everyone must "respect those who are fighting from the beginning," according to Sky News Arabia.

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