On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first telephone conversation in over two years. The two-hour discussion focused primarily on the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. According to official sources, the exchange was substantial, reflecting Paris and Moscow’s continued willingness to keep diplomatic channels open despite their deepening confrontation.
A Call for Immediate Ceasefire
In an official statement from the Élysée Palace, Macron reaffirmed “France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The French president urged Vladimir Putin to implement “a ceasefire as soon as possible” and to initiate “negotiations between Ukraine and Russia aimed at reaching a solid and lasting resolution to the conflict.”
This marks the first direct appeal from Macron to the Kremlin since the full-scale war began in 2022. After that point, high-level contacts between Paris and Moscow had all but ceased.
Kremlin’s Position: Peace Must Be Long-Term
According to the Kremlin’s press service, President Putin pointed to “the direct responsibility of Western states” in escalating the war in Ukraine. He emphasized that any future peace agreement must be “long-term” and take into account Russia’s fundamental security concerns.
Thus, the positions of the two sides remain diametrically opposed: France calls for an urgent halt to hostilities and the launch of negotiations, while Moscow continues to focus on the geopolitical causes of the conflict and insists on its own preconditions for any possible settlement.
Nuclear Iran: Diplomacy as the Only Path
A significant portion of the conversation was dedicated to Iran’s nuclear program. Both sides agreed that the crisis must be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means. As the Kremlin noted, “the importance of respecting Tehran’s legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy and its continued fulfillment of obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including cooperation with the IAEA, was emphasized.”
This was one of the few areas where French and Russian positions aligned. Despite mounting differences on other global issues, both capitals believe a nuclear escalation in the Middle East must be prevented.
Dialogue to Continue
According to Politico, both the Kremlin and the Élysée confirmed that the presidents agreed to continue their coordination on the issues discussed. They also pledged to hold another round of talks in the near future.
Despite their sharp differences over Ukraine, the mere fact that high-level dialogue has resumed suggests that diplomacy between Paris and Moscow is not entirely exhausted. Macron appears eager to restore France’s role as a mediator in today’s most urgent conflicts, while Putin, for his part, seems willing to use every available channel to pursue Russia’s strategic objectives.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Politico. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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