Secret diplomacy: Macron sent representative to Moscow for Ukraine talks
Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty Images)
Against the backdrop of ongoing consultations on ending the war in Ukraine, European countries are seeking to secure their role in shaping the future security system. France is among them, according to a Reuters report.
Read also: Trump leaks private chats with Macron and Rutte mentioning Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron's chief diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, visited Moscow at the beginning of the week and held confidential meetings with Russian leadership representatives.
The purpose of the visit was Paris's desire to secure Europe's participation in negotiations regarding the future security architecture and the process of ending the war in Ukraine.
Contacts with the Kremlin and Paris's position
As part of the trip, Emmanuel Bonne met with the Russian President's chief assistant for foreign policy, Yuri Ushakov.
It is reported that the visit took place against the backdrop of ongoing peace consultations in Abu Dhabi between representatives of the US, Russia, and Ukraine, in which European Union countries are not yet officially participating.
The French side insists that any agreements on a ceasefire and further steps toward conflict resolution cannot be made without the direct participation of European states.
Paris emphasizes that the security of the continent should not be discussed exclusively in a bilateral format between Washington and Moscow.
Possible dialogue at the highest level
Commenting on the prospects for his own dialogue with Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron noted that preparatory work is underway.
"It's being prepared and so there are discussions that are being held at a technical level," he stated during a meeting with farmers.
France emphasizes that the future of European security is directly linked to the results of negotiations regarding Ukraine, and the EU's participation in this process is viewed as fundamentally necessary.
Macron suggested the possibility of contact with Putin in the coming weeks, not ruling out holding corresponding negotiations against the backdrop of ongoing discussions on security issues and the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov reacted sharply to Macron's statements about a possible dialogue with Putin, declaring that such signals are demonstrative and aimed at an external audience.
