French President Emmanuel Macron held his first phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in nearly three years, during which he called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
According to reports from the Élysée Palace cited by BFMTV, the French president emphasized France's unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine during his conversation with Putin. Macron also called for as rapid a ceasefire as possible and the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to achieve a durable and lasting resolution to the conflict.
Kremlin representatives described the talks as having a 'substantive nature'. The Russian side confirmed that the leaders discussed both the situation in the Middle East and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Dialogue between Macron and Putin
The previous conversation between Macron and Putin took place on September 11, 2022. Over the past year, the French president has repeatedly entertained the possibility of resuming dialogue with the Russian leader.
As a result of the conversation, Macron urged Putin to end the war in Ukraine and intensify the process of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict. This step reflects France's intention to support Ukraine's territorial integrity and strengthen international security in the region.