French MPs have adopted a resolution on increased support for Ukraine, including a call for the seizure of frozen Russian assets.
Passed with 288 votes in favour and 54 against, the resolution called on the EU, Nato and other allied countries to continue and increase their political, economic and military support for Ukraine.
The backing for President Volodymyr Zelenksy's administration came hours after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin urged his armed forces to continue their sweep through the border region of Kursk.
In his first visit to the region since Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in August, Putin, dressed in army camouflage, hailed recent gains.
"I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy," he said in televised remarks.
Russia's forces have retaken 24 settlements in the border region over the last five days, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin.
Voyage
Minutes after footage of Putin's remarks aired on Russian state TV, Ukraine's army commander suggested his troops were pulling back to minimise losses.
"In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. To this end, the units of the defence forces, if necessary, manoeuvre to more favourable positions," commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said in a Facebook post.
Despite government objections, the resolution in the Assemblée nationale also wanted Russian assets to be seized in order to finance the military support for Ukraine.
"The total seizure of the main part of these assets raises legal questions and the question of the economic precedent that this could represent for foreign investors," Benjamin Haddad, the Minister for Europe, told MPs.
MPs also clashed over EU countries continuing to import Russian gas and placing European troops on Ukrainian soil in the event of a peace agreement.
"We encourage the French government and its European partners to study the possibility of deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine," the resolution said.
