Europe needs to strive for better relations with Russia in the long term, French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday, adding that while he isn't proposing lifting sanctions they have changed nothing about Russia's behavoir.

Emmanuel Macron embarked Wednesday on what is shaping up to be another rocky year for his presidency of France, facing a fresh barrage of anger from critics for using a new year's address to reaffirm his commitment to fiercely contested pension reforms.