President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on Wednesday that France should have paid more attention to Eastern European nations, which warned about a belligerent Russia before Moscow's forces invaded Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron offered a mea culpa to eastern European nations on Wednesday in saying France should have paid more attention to them amid their warnings about a belligerant Russia before its invasion of Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron sought to endear himself to Eastern Europeans on Wednesday (31 May) but repeated warnings that the bloc has been too reliant in defence matters on Washington and remained ambiguous about what security assurances the West could offer to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron sought to mend fences with Eastern Europeans at a conference in Slovakia, telling an audience largely from the region that he wants a more collaborative relationship with ex-Soviet states.