Macron commented on Zelensky's legitimacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that he is the legitimate president and that early elections would lead to manipulation. He made these remarks on Thursday, February 20, while responding to questions from social media users.   "The Ukrainian president was elected in free elections in Ukraine… Then he had to declare martial law because there is a war in his country. Do you think he can organize presidential or parliamentary elections in a country where several million Ukrainians have fled for their safety, in a country where he has mobilized several million others to the front? What are we talking about? Do you think we would be conducting elections in such a situation? He cannot hold elections," Macron stated.   According to him, if we want free elections in Ukraine, then a truly lasting peace in Ukraine is a prerequisite; everything done before that is manipulation.   "What plan do some have? I know it very well. A ceasefire that won't be respected. Quick, quick elections to manipulate them – that's not a good idea," he added.   Macron spent an hour answering social media users' questions about Ukraine and the threat of Russia to Europe. The French president opened a live stream, displaying a map of Ukraine and showcasing the territories captured by Russia in 2014 and 2022.   Earlier, a similar statement was made by European Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker: "We have a fairly simple and clear position on this matter. President Zelensky was legitimately elected in free, fair, and democratic elections." He emphasized that "Ukraine is a democracy, while Putin's Russia is not."   It is worth noting that U.S. President Donald Trump stated that there have been no elections in Ukraine for a long time. According to him, the current head of the Ukrainian state has a low political rating.