Kremlin confirms in-depth Putin-Macron talk on Ukraine No peace deal discussed

A phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron, initiated by France, offered a chance for both leaders to exchange views on the Ukraine crisis, the Kremlin said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed during a press briefing that the discussion allowed both presidents to convey their respective positions in detail, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

When asked whether the two sides had discussed potential terms of a peace agreement in light of the current territorial situation — and whether Macron had shown any willingness to consider such discussions — Peskov responded:

“No, he did not. They exchanged views, but in quite some detail. It was a good opportunity to present their positions to each other,” he said.

Peskov also noted that there had been no requests from Germany or the United Kingdom for similar phone conversations.

“The initiative came from the French side, but President Putin has repeatedly expressed his readiness for dialogue. The conversation was highly substantive and lasted more than two hours,” the Kremlin spokesperson added.

The call, initiated by the French side, ended a long diplomatic silence between Paris and Moscow, Spanish daily newspaper reported. The last known conversation between the two presidents took place in September 2022.

The European Union has largely avoided direct communication with Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico — both seen as sympathetic to Moscow — have maintained regular contact.

During the call, Macron reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged a swift ceasefire, according to French and Russian press reports.

The Kremlin, cited by Russian media, reiterated its position that the conflict is a consequence of Western policies. 

“For years, they ignored Russia’s security interests and created an anti-Russian foothold in Ukraine,” the state-run outlet quoted Putin as saying.

Publication further reported that Macron challenged this narrative, urging Putin to focus on current realities rather than returning to Moscow’s longstanding arguments about the origins of the conflict.

By Aghakazim Guliyev