European leaders agree now ‘not the time’ to lift sanctions against Russia

Support for Ukraine continues with divided opinion on Franco-British plan for reassurance force' to help ceasefire

European leaders have affirmed their support for Ukraine at a Paris summit and agreed now was not the time" to lift sanctions against Russia, but with splits remaining on Franco-British plans for a reassurance force" to help guarantee an eventual ceasefire.

France's president, Emmanuel Macron, said on Thursday the meeting of more than two dozen heads of state and government had agreed unanimously that sanctions on Moscow should not be eased until peace has clearly been established" in Ukraine.