Macron slams Moscow's increase in strikes on Ukraine civilian infrastructure

French President Emmanuel Macron 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-defense weaponry to combat the increasingly deadly barrage of drone and missile strikes.

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

Russia over the weekend 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.

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.