Putin ready to talk to Macron, says Kremlin spokesperson
Photo: Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to pro-Kremlin media outlet RIA Novosti.
"He (Macron – ed.) said he was ready to speak with Putin. Here, it is probably very important to recall what the President said during the direct line. He also expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with Macron. Therefore, if there is mutual political will, this can only be viewed positively," Dmitry Peskov said.
Background
"Either a lasting peace will be achieved, or we will find ways for Europeans to resume dialogue with Russia, in transparency and in association with Ukraine. It would once again be useful to speak with Vladimir Putin," Macron said, adding that Europe demands a seat at the table in negotiations on peace in Ukraine.
Macron’s statement came after EU leaders, on the morning of December 19, approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine for 2026–2027, abandoning the idea of confiscating frozen Russian assets.
On December 19, another meeting took place in Miami between Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and American and European partners regarding the US peace plan. On December 20, Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in the United States and also met with the American side to discuss Ukraine. He said the discussions were constructive and that talks would continue for two consecutive days.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the US had proposed holding a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia at the level of national security advisers. The head of state supported the idea.
