French President Emmanuel Macron said that possible talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin require preparation with European Union partners, Interfax reports.
“I think right now we must work first and foremost on ourselves, on what we intend to ask for. And what do we want? We want security guarantees for Ukraine, but we also want certain things for Europeans,“ said Macron.
On February 3, Macron said that preparations for his contacts with Putin were underway at a technical level. According to the French leader, consultations on this issue are also being held with European partners and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The last telephone conversation between Putin and Macron took place on July 1, 2025. This was their first conversation after a long break that lasted since September 2022. During the conversation, the French leader called for an immediate ceasefire and truce.
In response, the Russian president said that the conflict was a consequence of Western policy and stressed that any agreements must take into account “new territorial realities“ and address the root causes of the crisis.