France says that no leader knows for sure whether Russia will invade Ukraine, but there is a risk, a source from France's presidential palace told journalists Friday.
“No leader said tonight that the invasion will or will not take place, we’re talking about risk,” the Élysée Palace source said, following a call between the leaders of the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland, Romania, NATO and the European Union.
“We’re not in the head of President Putin,” the source continued.
France's remarks came shortly after US President Joe Biden on Friday said he is now convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade Ukraine, but emphasized that room for diplomacy remains.
The Élysée Palace source also rebuffed claims from Russia accusing Ukraine of genocide in the Donbas region, remarking: "There is no Ukrainian attack against the Donbas.”
The source said the threat by France and its allies to impose “massive sanctions” on Russia in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine referred only to an incursion into the areas under the control of the Kyiv administration.
Whether and what form of sanctions would be imposed for an incursion into disputed regions in eastern Ukraine already controlled by Russian backed separatists is not clear.
The leaders on the call agreed on the need to keep the "channels of dialogue with Moscow open," sharing a collective belief that they still have “the possibility to dissuade Vladimir Putin from proceeding,” the source said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Saturday and Putin Sunday as part of his efforts to “try everything to stop the worst from happening,” the source said.