The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, had their first phone conversation in two years. The conversation lasted more than two hours.
According to an official statement from the French side, Macron once again confirmed his country's strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also called for an immediate cessation of gunfire between Russia and Ukraine and the start of negotiations.
A statement published on the Kremlin website claimed that Putin accused Western countries of dragging out the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine. He also reiterated his traditional rhetoric, emphasizing the need to address the "underlying causes" and rely on the "actual situation on the ground" to resolve the conflict.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East. According to the Kremlin, both sides recognized Iran's right to develop a peaceful nuclear program but stressed that Iran must comply with its international obligations to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Putin and Macron agreed to continue their dialogue with the aim of further exchange of views.
