<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said he has secured the agreement of three of the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council to back a call by the UN for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on the coronavirus epidemic.</p>.<p>The UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the world truce on March 23, warning that in war-torn countries, health systems have collapsed and the small number of health professionals left were often targeted in the fighting.</p>.<p>Macron said President Xi Jinping of China, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had all confirmed to him they would back the plea.</p>.<p>The French leader said he was hopeful of securing Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement in the coming hours.</p>.<p>"I spoke to him at the start of this initiative. I haven't spoken to him since I got the firm confirmations of the other leaders. I will do in the next few hours," Macron told Radio France Internationale in an interview.</p>.<p>"I think that for sure President Putin will agree and the day he says he does, we'll be able to hold this videoconference and relay this call in a solemn, forceful and efficient way."</p>.<p>The United Nations Security Council met for the first time on April 9 to discuss the coronavirus pandemic as the 15-member body - charged with maintaining international peace and security - struggles to agree on whether it should take any action.</p>.<p>The five veto-wielding powers - the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain - have been discussing a French text for a draft resolution. </p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said he has secured the agreement of three of the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council to back a call by the UN for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on the coronavirus epidemic.</p>.<p>The UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the world truce on March 23, warning that in war-torn countries, health systems have collapsed and the small number of health professionals left were often targeted in the fighting.</p>.<p>Macron said President Xi Jinping of China, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had all confirmed to him they would back the plea.</p>.<p>The French leader said he was hopeful of securing Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement in the coming hours.</p>.<p>"I spoke to him at the start of this initiative. I haven't spoken to him since I got the firm confirmations of the other leaders. I will do in the next few hours," Macron told Radio France Internationale in an interview.</p>.<p>"I think that for sure President Putin will agree and the day he says he does, we'll be able to hold this videoconference and relay this call in a solemn, forceful and efficient way."</p>.<p>The United Nations Security Council met for the first time on April 9 to discuss the coronavirus pandemic as the 15-member body - charged with maintaining international peace and security - struggles to agree on whether it should take any action.</p>.<p>The five veto-wielding powers - the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain - have been discussing a French text for a draft resolution. </p>