A statement issued by the Elysee, on Sunday evening, stated that “in addition to urgent humanitarian action, France will call for a ceasefire that must precede any peace talks.”
Prior to the statement, diplomatic sources had indicated that an emergency meeting of the Security Council would be held on Monday at 15:00 (20:00 GMT), on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The French presidency statement indicated that the meeting will take place on Monday morning, in an effort to ensure humanitarian access to Ukraine.
A diplomatic source told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that officials from the humanitarian agencies of the United Nations and the High Commissioner for Refugees will participate in this meeting.
France requested the participation of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the meeting, according to the source.
According to a European commissioner, the war, which began on February 24, could lead to the displacement of more than seven million people.
The war has already prompted European and non-European countries to prepare to receive displaced persons or to announce the provision of financial aid.
The Americans had recently considered that the number of refugees may reach five million people if the conflict continues.
And on Sunday evening, the French presidency reported that Macron had held telephone conversations throughout the weekend with international leaders, who in turn stressed the need to work on “the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.”