Putin and Macron hold first phone call in three years

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation for the first time in nearly three years, according to statements from the Kremlin and French media outlet BFMTV.

The leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, including prospects for a peaceful settlement. Putin said the conflict was a direct consequence of Western policies. Macron, according to the Élysée Palace, reiterated France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations.

The two presidents also touched on rising tensions in the Middle East, including the conflict between Iran and Israel and recent U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.

The previous phone call between Putin and Macron took place in September 2022.