Russian Diplomat Says Ukrainian Army Faced Disasters On Frontline, Western Troops Delivery Won't Help

Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry Press Office)

JAKARTA - The situation on the front lines is a major disaster for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his troops, while a recent statement by French President Emmanuel Macron about the possible deployment of French troops to Ukraine will not help, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Kyiv's regime is facing a sad situation on the front lines, and no one can help," the Russian diplomat said.

Zakharova further said that bold and strong rhetoric is needed to encourage Ukrainian troops.

"Has (French President Emmanuel) Macron's statement had an impact? The situation is the opposite," said Zakharova.

In addition, Zakharova said, following President Macron's statement, many NATO officials and agencies ruled out sending troops to Ukraine.

President Macron told a news conference after a meeting of Western ally leaders in Paris on Monday that there was no consensus on the official deployment of ground troops to Ukraine. However, he did not rule out the possibility of something similar happening in the future.

In response, Zakharova previously said the French President's statement showed a lack of awareness.

"Regarding Emmanuel Macron's statement regarding the possibility of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, there is a strong feeling that the French president is not aware of what his subordinates say or what he himself said," he wrote on Telegram.

Separately, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday it had withdrawn from two more villages near the eastern city of Avdivka which was seized earlier this month by Russian forces, losing more territory in line with the reduced support from Western allies.

Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviya said his troops had withdrawn from Sieverne and Stepove the day after Kyiv announced they had left Lastochkyne Village.

Ukraine is moving back to a position parallel to other eastern front lines, to a more suitable field for defense, Lykhoviya said.

In Moscow, Russia's Ministry of Defense said it had captured Sieverne. The ministry said its troops had "placed more favorable lines and positions", as well as attacked Ukrainian workers and equipment near three other settlements.

Russia's success in capturing Avdiika, which survived Russia's relentless attack, has been Russia's biggest achievement since they seized the city of Bakhmut in May last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the seizure of Avdivka as "absolute success", pledging to continue efforts to secure control of Ukraine's entire eastern Donetsk region, which he claims has annexed in October 2022.