French President Emmanuel Macron says technical preparations are under way to restart contact with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, but notes Moscow shows no real willingness for peace.
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that technical preparations are under way to resume dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He stated the work was being conducted transparently and in consultation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.
Macron stressed that France continues to support Ukraine, which remains under Russian bombardment.
He said contact with the Kremlin was necessary to negotiate future security guarantees.
“In this context, it is important that Europeans restore their own channels of discussion,” he said.
However, the French leader noted that Russia is not currently showing a genuine willingness to negotiate peace.
He did not provide a specific timeframe for when direct contact might resume.
“I think it would be useful, but I don’t think Russia is currently willing to conclude a peace agreement in the coming days or weeks,” Macron said.
Dialogue between the European Union and Russia has been virtually frozen since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
