French President Emmanuel Macron called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for an "immediate" ceasefire in Ukraine in their first phone call since September 2022, the Elysee Palace announced, quoted by Agence France-Presse and Reuters, BTA reports.
During the two-hour conversation, Macron insisted on starting genuine negotiations with the aim of permanently ending the conflict, the French presidency said.
The French head of state stressed France's unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and called for a ceasefire "as soon as possible" and for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia for a sustainable solution to the crisis.
For his part, the Russian president stressed to Macron the need for any peace agreement to be "comprehensive and lasting", to ensure the elimination of the root causes of the crisis and to be based on "new territorial realities", as the Kremlin pointed out. Putin has already stated that any agreement must include recognition of Russia's annexation of parts of Ukrainian territory.
Putin recalled that the conflict in Ukraine is a "direct consequence of the policy of Western countries" that "ignore Russia's security interests" and have created an "anti-Russian bridgehead" in Ukraine.
At the same time, Macron emphasized the need for Iran to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic agreement that would guarantee a lasting solution to Tehran's nuclear program, including the issues of its missile program and Iran's role in the region.
The Kremlin pointed out that Putin had stated that Iran has the "right" to develop its nuclear program. According to the Elysee Palace statement, the two leaders agreed to coordinate their actions and hold another conversation in the near future.
Macron has maintained contact with Putin since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but after their conversation in September 2022, communication was interrupted. Over the past year, the French president has taken a tougher stance on Russia, describing its expansionist policy as a threat to Europe.
On Thursday, Macron announced his intention to talk "in the coming days" with the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, China and Russia - about Iran's nuclear program, AFP recalls.
The Kremlin added that Putin had a "substantive" conversation with Macron about both the Iran-Israel conflict and the situation in Ukraine, Reuters notes.