Putin, Zelensky wish Macron 'success' after French election win

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, the Kremlin said Monday, as tensions remain over Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine.

"I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," Putin said in a telegram to Macron, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

For his part, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has spoken with Macron several times since Russia moved troops into Ukraine on 24 February, called the French leader a "true friend of Ukraine".

"I wish him further success for the sake of the [French] people. I appreciate his support and I am convinced that we are moving together towards new common victories," he wrote in both Ukrainian and French.

Macron was one of the few Western leaders to contact Putin since Moscow invaded Ukraine, spending hours on telephone calls trying to negotiate a resolution to the conflict.

But while keeping its diplomatic channels to Moscow open, France under Macron has joined the barrage of international sanctions on Russia imposed over the military campaign.

Macron secured a victory over Le Pen in a second round of voting over the weekend, defeating his far-right rival who was accused of links to Russia.