Russia has “geopolitically already lost” the war in Ukraine and is turning into a vassal state of China, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Opinion newspaper published on Sunday, the Associated Press reports, the Guardian reports.

“It has de facto entered into a form of subordination to China and lost access to the Baltic Sea, which was critical because it led to the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO,” Macron said.

“Just two years ago, this was unimaginable. Therefore, this is already a geopolitical defeat,” Macron said before the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to Paris on Sunday.

“Let’s be clear, Russia should not win this military war. Therefore, it depends on us how we will help the Ukrainians in their counteroffensive and how to prepare the issue of security guarantees for the negotiations that will inevitably take place,” he said.

“I have always said that in the end the European security architecture will have to fully protect Ukraine. But they must also consider not engaging in confrontation with Russia and restoring a stable balance of power,” he added, saying, “But there are many more steps to be taken before we get there.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected in Paris late Sunday after his visits to Rome on Saturday and Germany on Sunday.

Traveling to Germany on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the military support of Germany, which he described as a “true friend” and a “reliable ally” after announcing new arms shipments to support a counteroffensive against Russia.

On Sunday morning, Volodymyr Zelenskyi was received with military honors by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday in Rome that the results of the imminent counteroffensive to retake the territories captured by Russia will be visible in the near future, but he did not want to give details of the operation, as it “will not help Ukraine.” .

President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted that the Armed Forces have almost enough means and weapons to launch an offensive, and that he needs a few more visits to allied countries.