Greenpeace activists on Monday afternoon stole a wax figure of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grévin wax museum in Paris museum and placed it in front of the Russian embassy as part of a pro-Ukraine protest.
According to a police source, two women and a man entered the Grévin Museum posing as tourists and, once inside, changed their clothes to pass for workers.
The activists slipped out through an emergency exit with the 40,000-euro-statue, which they had covered with a blanket.
The Greenpeace activists then placed the figure in front of the Russian embassy in a stunt meant to urge France to stop gas and fertiliser imports from Russia.
"For us, France is playing a double game," said Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France.
"Emmanuel Macron embodies this double discourse: he supports Ukraine but encourages French companies to continue trading with Russia."
Greenpeace report reveals France’s double standards in dealing with Russia
Julliard said Greenpeace targeted Macron because he had a particular responsibility, adding that the French president "should be the first" among European leaders to end trade contracts with Russia.
France has been one of the most vocal supporters of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Macron has taken the lead in seeking to forge a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump shocked the world by directly negotiating with Russia.
Ceasefire talks
In the latest developments in the conflict, Russia proposed a partial ceasefire of "two to three days" at talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday, Moscow's top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said.
"We have proposed a specific ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas of the front line," Medinsky said, "so that commanders can collect the bodies of their soldiers." Ukraine is pushing for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Ukraine on Monday proposed to hold a next round of talks with Russia before the end of June.
Russia and Ukraine hold first peace talks since 2022
"We propose to the Russian side to hold a meeting by the end of this month, from 20th to 30th of June," Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said after talks, adding that the delegations should try to agree a meeting between presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday also reiterated his willingness to host a meeting between the American, Russian and Ukrainian leaders in an effort to end the war in Ukraine.
"My greatest wish for both sides is to bring both (Russia's) Vladimir Putin and (Ukraine's Volodymyr) Zelensky together in Istanbul or Ankara, and even to bring (US President) Mr (Donald) Trump to their side, if they accept," he said, adding that Turkey would "take steps" to facilitate such a meeting.
(with AFP)
