Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that European countries will be drawn into military conflict if Ukraine joins NATO, following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"If Ukraine joins NATO and decides to take Crimea with military means, European countries will be automatically at war with Russia and there will be no winners in a conflict with the world's largest nuclear power", Putin said.

He added, "We also understand that Russia is one of the leading nuclear states. And by some modern contents it even out performs many."

So far, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy have stated they are committed to the principles of a 2014 peace agreement.