No Phone Call Scheduled Between Putin and Macron
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia currently has no plans for a telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. He confirmed that, as of now, no arrangements for such an initiative have been made. Peskov noted that while France and Russia maintain working-level contacts, there are currently no concrete proposals for potential negotiations between the two nations' leaders.
France's Stance on Engaging with Russia
France has not ruled out the possibility of re-establishing contact with Russia, but insists any dialogue must be conducted in full coordination with Ukraine and its European partners. Any negotiation formats must be based on transparency and must account for Kyiv's position. It is further emphasized that talks cannot proceed without agreement from other European states.
The French side believes the military situation in Ukraine, including Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory, does not indicate Moscow's readiness for a genuine peace process. Europe aims to preserve the possibility of direct contacts with Moscow as a tool to protect its own interests, but will not allow decisions regarding regional security to be made without the participation of European countries and Ukraine. This reflects the broader European Union policy of maintaining pressure while keeping diplomatic channels nominally open.
This situation underscores the complexity of international relations in the context of the war in Ukraine, where Russia's actions and its approach to peace negotiations continue to cause concern among European partners.
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The refusal to schedule a leader-level call signals a lack of progress in restarting dialogue, which could complicate efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Therefore, despite France's stated willingness to re-engage, the necessity for coordination with Ukraine and other European nations remains the pivotal factor in this process.