Macron and Putin discuss Ukraine ceasefire and Iran in first talks since 2022
Macron "emphasised France's unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and "called for the establishment, as soon as possible, of a ceasefire and the launch of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a solid and lasting settlement of the conflict," said an Elysée Palace statement.
A Kremlin statement said Putin "reminded [Macron] that the Ukrainian conflict is a direct consequence of the policy of Western states." Putin added that Western states had "for many years ignored Russia's security interests" and "created an anti-Russian bridgehead in Ukraine." The Kremlin said Putin told the French president that any peace deal should be "comprehensive and long-term, provide for the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities."
'Coordinate efforts' on Iran
On Iran, "the two presidents decided to coordinate their efforts and to speak soon in order to follow up together on this issue," the French statement added. The talks came after a ceasefire last week ended a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Macron has previously urged Iran to ease tensions by moving to "zero enrichment" of uranium in its nuclear programme.
Macron "emphasised the urgent need" for Iran to comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty "in particular by cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose inspectors must be able to resume their work without delay," the statement said, adding: "He expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic solution that would allow for a lasting and demanding settlement of the nuclear issue, the question of Iran's missiles and its role in the region."
The Kremlin said Putin emphasised "the lawful right of Tehran in developing a civilian" nuclear programme. It said both presidents agreed that the conflict over Iran's nuclear programme and other Middle Eastern conflicts should be solved "exclusively" by diplomatic means and that the two leaders would "continue contacts" on this.
No calls since September 2022
The French leader tried, in a series of phone calls in 2022, to warn Putin against invading Ukraine and travelled to Moscow early that year. He kept up phone contact with Putin after the invasion, but talks then ceased, with the last call between the presidents dating back to September 2022.
Macron has, over the last year, toughened his line against Russia, saying its expansionism is a threat to all of Europe. The French president has also refused to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine.
In April 2024, Russia's then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu and French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu, a close confidant of Macron, held talks focused on security in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Paris. That was the last official high-level contact between the two countries.
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