French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine “as soon as possible”, the Elysee Palace has said. The conversation lasted more than two hours.
“He called for the establishment of a ceasefire as soon as possible and the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a lasting and durable solution to the conflict,” the French president said in a statement.
Macron also “emphasised France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
It was the first phone conversation between Macron and Putin since 2022.
The Kremlin said Putin’s phone conversation with Macron was “meaningful”. According to reports, during the conversation Putin said that “the Ukrainian conflict is a direct consequence of the policy of Western states”, and in the context of the prospect of a peaceful settlement, Putin reiterated “the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis” and “new territorial realities”.