French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "listen to reason" on Ukraine, accusing Moscow of becoming "a force of global destabilization" after it loosened its rules on using nuclear arms.

Speaking to journalists after the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, the French leader said: "I want truly to call here on Russia to listen to reason. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council it has responsibilities."

He said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the G20 to "use all his influence" with Putin to try to achieve a de-escalation.

Macron said Russia ally China had "the capacity to negotiate with President Putin so that he halts his attacks" on Ukraine.

Macron also cited the alleged involvement of another China ally, North Korea, which has reportedly deployed thousands of troops to fight alongside Russia, as a reason for Beijing to intercede.

Russia has reacted furiously to a decision by US President Joe Biden to change policy on Ukraine and allow Kyiv to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time.

The tensions spiraled further on Tuesday, November 19, after Russia said Ukraine used the missiles against a facility in Russia's Bryansk region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was at the G20, said the escalation had brought the United States and Russia to "the brink of direct military conflict."