France says Putin wants to 'take Ukraine off the map of nations'

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accused Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Friday of trying to destroy Ukraine's statehood, warning that the "security" of its President Volodymyr Zelensky was at risk.

"This is total war. Putin has decided... to take Ukraine off the map of nations," Le Drian told France Inter radio.

He added that France was also "worried" about a possible Russian military offensive against Moldova and Georgia, two other post-Soviet states.