French President Emmanuel Macron has said Western powers are ready to ramp up sanctions against Russia if necessary, in a bid to force a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“These sanctions have an impact and are tangible and we must continue them for their dissuasive effect,” he told a news conference after a NATO and G7 leaders summit.

Macron added that he believed China still wanted to do everything to stop the war in Ukraine and avoid doing anything that could escalate the situation.