France's Macron says Putin's Ukraine counterproposal 'not sufficient'

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted cautiously on Sunday to Russia's proposal for direct negotiations with Kiev to end the war in Ukraine.

"This is a first step, but it is not sufficient," Macron told journalists as he arrived in Poland on his return trip from Ukraine, newspaper Le Monde reported.

Kiev and key European allies had previously demanded an unconditional ceasefire from Moscow starting Monday.

Macron called Russian President Vladimir Putin's counterproposal "a way of not answering," adding that it appears to be a delay tactic. "He is looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time."

It is unacceptable for the Ukrainians to conduct negotiations while they continue to be bombed, Macron said. "We must stand firm with the [Unites States] and say that the ceasefire is unconditional, and then we can discuss the rest."

On Saturday, Macron, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, visited Kiev.

Together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they called for a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions, set to commence on Monday.

In response, Putin proposed to resume direct talks between Moscow and Kiev without preconditions in Istanbul as early as Thursday, although he did not directly address the demand for a ceasefire.