Putin, Macron end three years strike by talking on phone

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone on Tuesday, marking their first direct conversation in nearly three years, according to statements from the Kremlin.

The leaders focused on two major global crises: the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

During the call, Putin told Macron that the Ukraine war was “a direct consequence of the policies pursued by Western states, which for many years ignored Russia’s security interests,” and accused the West of turning Ukraine into an “anti-Russian bridgehead,” as relayed by Kremlin sources.

He emphasized that any resolution to the war must “be comprehensive and long-term, address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities.”

On the Middle East, the conversation addressed recent hostilities between Israel and Iran. Both leaders reportedly agreed that diplomatic engagement is essential, and pledged to continue dialogue for the sake of “possible coordination of the positions.”

According to the Kremlin, they also stressed a joint obligation to uphold “peace and security,” and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the “global nuclear non-proliferation regime.” The statement highlighted the need to respect Iran’s “legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy” and to ensure it fulfills obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty through cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

France has been a significant supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia, having committed over €3.7 billion ($4.1 billion) in military aid since the conflict escalated in February 2022, based on tracking data.

Macron has previously raised the idea of deploying French troops to Ukraine, though such plans were never implemented. While Paris hinted that French forces could be sent post-conflict to serve as a deterrent to Moscow, the Russian government has consistently rejected any Western military presence in Ukraine, warning it could ignite a direct war with NATO.

In recent months, Macron has begun to adopt a more cautious approach. In May, he acknowledged that France had done “the maximum we could” to support Ukraine and was no longer able to provide additional arms. Just last week, the French president urged NATO's European members to reconsider long-term military buildup and said they should “think about” resuming dialogue with Russia “right now” as part of broader discussions on European security and a potential peace deal for Ukraine.

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