After nearly three years of silence, Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine conflict
However, Putin repeated his stance, saying the war was "a direct consequence of the West's policy," which had ignored Russia's security concerns. The Kremlin also said any future peace agreement should reflect "new territorial realities" — a reference to the areas of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed.Putin has been saying that Ukraine must accept Russia's control over those territories as part of any peace deal. Meanwhile, France has maintained that only Ukraine has the right to decide whether to make territorial concessions.IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN FOCUSThe two also discussed the growing tensions over Iran's nuclear program. The concern increased in recent weeks after Iran's parliament passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after joint US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.advertisementDuring the call, Putin said Iran's right to peacefully develop nuclear energy must be respected and Tehran should continue meeting its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.While Macron called on Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA and expressed his concern about Iran's ballistic missile program. "Macron expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic solution that would lead to a lasting and rigorous resolution of the nuclear issue, the question of Iran's missiles, and its role in the region," his office stated.Both sides reportedly agreed to coordinate efforts to ease nuclear tensions and avoid further escalation.Russia and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Macron and Putin had frequently spoken in the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine; in February 2022, Macron even visited Moscow. But their conversation had been quiet for nearly three years.- EndsMust Watch
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