President Emmanuel Macron said France would step up military and humanitarian support to Ukraine during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
Macron reiterated his "strong concern" over Russia's bombing of Ukrainian cities and the "unbearable situation" in the southeastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, the French presidency added in its statement.
Russia denies targeting civilians in what it calls it "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Ukraine's military said Russian forces pounded Ukraine's eastern Donbas region on Saturday but failed to capture three target areas, while Moscow said Western sanctions on Russia and arms shipments to Ukraine were impeding peace negotiations.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan face renewed Iranian attacks after US hits Iran's south
Lebanese army enters southern town after Israeli withdrawal, in first test of US-brokered deal
Kuwait lodges formal protest with Iran over tanker attack; ministry says power station fires contained
Russian attack kills three in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, officials say
French parliament backs social media ban for children under 15
