French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a coordinated European approach to re-engage with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, following a recent high-level technical contact.
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a coordinated European approach to re-engage in dialogue with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
He made the remarks following the dispatch of his top adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, to Moscow last week for the first such high-level meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“What did I gain? Confirmation that Russia does not want peace right now,” Macron said in an interview with several European newspapers, including Germany’s Suddeutsche Zeitung.
He added that the primary achievement was rebuilding technical-level channels of discussion.
“My wish is to share this with my European partners and to have a well-organised European approach,” Macron stated.
He emphasised that any future dialogue with Putin should occur without “too many interlocutors, with a given mandate”.
Macron argued last year that Europe should initiate contact with Putin, rather than leaving the United States to lead negotiations to end the war.
“Whether we like Russia or not, Russia will still be there tomorrow,” the French president was quoted as saying.
“It is therefore important that we structure the resumption of a European discussion with the Russians, without naivety, without putting pressure on the Ukrainians — but also so as not to depend on third parties in this discussion.”
Following Bonne’s visit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin was ready to receive a call from Macron.
“If you want to call and discuss something seriously, then call,” Lavrov told state-run broadcaster RT.
The two presidents last spoke in July, marking their first known phone talks in over two-and-a-half years.
Macron attempted to warn Putin against invading Ukraine in a series of phone calls in early 2022 and travelled to Moscow that year.
He maintained phone contact with Putin after the invasion, but talks ceased after a September 2022 call.