Kyiv attacked Emmanuel Macron on Saturday after saying it was vital that Russia was not humiliated by the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The French president said France’s role was to be “a mediating power” and that saving Vladimir Putin an overwhelming defeat was the only way to find a diplomatic solution to end the war.
“Calls to prevent the humiliation of Russia can only humiliate France and all other countries that ask for it,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
He said Russia, which Kyiv says has occupied 20 percent of its territory, should “put itself in its place” to “bring peace and save lives.”
Ukrainian aides have ruled out any peace talks until Kyiv has used new weapons from the West to expel Russian forces to the fullest in Ukraine.
Macron has kept diplomatic channels open with Putin, despite criticism from some Eastern and Baltic partners in Europe that Russia should be forced to negotiate.
“I am convinced that the role of France is to be a mediating power,” Macron said.
“We must not humiliate Russia so that on the day the fighting ends we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means,” he added.
France has backed Ukraine with money and weapons, most recently with Caesar shells.
In May, Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Macron had asked him to cede land in order to reach a peace agreement with Moscow, which the Ukrainian president ruled out.
Joe Biden was asked if Kyiv should cede part of his land, and he did not rule it out on Friday.
“It simply came to our notice then. I won’t tell them what to do and what not to do. But it seems to me that at some point along the line, there will have to be a negotiated agreement here, “he said.
The US and its allies are placing renewed emphasis on the need for a negotiated peace with Moscow after more than 100 days of war.
In recent weeks, U.S. officials have met with representatives of the United Kingdom and the EU to discuss possible ways to end the conflict, CNN reported.