French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first telephone conversation in over two-and-a-half years on Tuesday, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the nuclear program of Iran. The call, lasting more than two hours, underscored the deep divisions between the two leaders on these critical global issues.
Macron reportedly urged for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the initiation of negotiations for a lasting settlement to the conflict. The Elysée Palace emphasized France’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
However, the Kremlin’s statement highlighted Putin’s counter-argument, in which he attributed the Ukrainian conflict to “the direct consequence of the policy of Western states” that have “for many years ignored Russia’s security interests” and “created an anti-Russian bridgehead in Ukraine.” Putin also stressed 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.”
The call comes more than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with fighting still raging on the ground and efforts to secure a truce at a standstill. On Tuesday, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the Russian city of Izhevsk, killing three people and wounding dozens in one of the deepest strikes inside Russia since the conflict began.
Beyond Ukraine, the two leaders also discussed Iran’s nuclear program, a week after a ceasefire ended Israel’s 12-day war with Iran. Macron suggested that Moscow and Paris work together to de-escalate tensions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Both presidents agreed to maintain contact on both the Ukrainian conflict and the Iranian nuclear issue in the future.
Macron’s office confirmed that the French President had alerted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of his intention to speak with Putin and debriefed him following the call.
