"The Ukraine conflict will last," Macron says as France prepares for economic fallouts

According to RT, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine "will last", so France is preparing for the economic impact.

At an agricultural show, he said, "War has returned to Europe. "In a certain way there will be consequences in our exports for the major sectors."

In addition, Macron announced that the French defense council would meet on Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

In the wake of Russia's attempt to "demilitarize" Ukraine earlier this week, France was among the countries that condemned the move -- but said the door to dialogue with Moscow should remain open.

In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Macron was requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the two had, according to the Kremlin, a "frank and serious exchange of views".

In his own tweet on Saturday, Zelensky said he had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron and that "weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine."