France vows support for Ukraine's plan to end Russian invasion

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot pledged his support for Ukraine's plan for ending the two and a half-year war with Russia, telling reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that he will work with Ukrainian officials to secure other nations' backing for the proposal.

Unveiled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, Kyiv's so-called "victory plan" hopes to compel Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations.

The proposal is being considered by Ukraine's Western partners, whose help is vital for Kyiv to resist its bigger neighbor. A key element would be a formal invitation into NATO, which Western backers have been reluctant to consider until after the war ends.

"A Russian victory would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos," Barrot said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. "That is why our exchanges should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy's victory plan and rally the greatest number possible of countries around it."