Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed the designation in a social media posting earlier in the day. He claimed that Russia was targeting civilian infrastructure. The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly denied this and similar allegations.
"As to the designation as a terrorist state I want to make it clear that it is not France's method... These are war crimes. The issue of designation is up to judges," Macron told reporters.
"We don't need any designation whatsoever to impose sanctions. We will help establish the truth... and find those responsible so that international and Ukrainian judges could punish them," he continued.
Macron said that France had sent police and investigators to Ukraine to help Ukrainian and the international investigators probe accusations of war crimes against Russia and identify those responsible.