France, Turkey, Greece working on 'humanitarian operation' for Mariupol evacuations: Macron

France is planning a humanitarian operation with Turkey and Greece to evacuate people from the devastated south-eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Friday evening after an EU summit in Brussels.

There were already concrete talks with the mayor of Mariupol and coordination with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron said.

Consultation is also necessary with Russia, whose troops have been besieging the city for weeks.

According to the Élysée Palace, France is in contact with the Ukrainian authorities, the Greeks, the Turks and the relevant international organizations in order to specify the needs to be met.

The action should start in the next few days, according to Paris.