Macron on talks with Putin: It’s not a matter of days
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron (kremlin.ru)
French President Emmanuel Macron does not plan to have contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, according to Le Figaro.
Read also: Putin ready to talk to Macron, says Kremlin spokesperson
"It’s not a matter of days; we are preparing everything. I think that above all, right now we need to work on ourselves, on what we want to ask," Macron said, commenting on the possibility of talks with Putin.
According to him, Europe wants security guarantees for Ukraine and "certain things for Europeans." This concerns issues of prosperity, Europe’s future, and the security architecture.
Macron and Putin talks
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed that European leaders resume direct discussions with Russia, arguing that the war of attrition has entered its "final stage."
According to the French leader, Europe must independently conduct negotiations on the security architecture and Ukraine’s future in the EU, without delegating these issues to the US or other third parties.
Macron noted that France has already restored technical-level discussion channels by sending its diplomatic advisors.
He emphasized that such dialogue is necessary for Europe’s self-respect, as Russia will remain a geographic neighbor regardless of attitudes toward it. At the same time, he noted that for some of his colleagues, such an initiative is still premature.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, commenting on Macron’s idea, said he would welcome any initiative that could help end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
