Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urges French firms to ‘stop sponsoring Russian war machine’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged French companies to “stop being sponsors of the Russian war machine”.

French companies including carmaker Renault RENA.PA and retailer Auchan must leave the Russian market, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told French lawmakers on Wednesday.

"Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin must stop being sponsors of the Russian war machine, stop financing the murder of children and women, of rape," he said. "French companies must leave the Russian market."

Renault was not immediately available for comment. It said earlier on Wednesday that it was considering again suspending production by its Moscow plant because of logistics issues.

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Privately owned retailer Auchan declined to comment. Last week a spokesperson said earlier criticism by Zelenskyy over the group's continued presence in Russia was "extremely surprising".

Leroy Merlin, which belongs to the same group as Auchan, also declined to comment.

French companies that have come under hefty criticism for still operating in Russia also include energy giant Total TTEF.PA and food group Danone DANO.PA. Zelenskyy did not name them but asked French firms in general to leave Russia.