In their first direct conversation since September 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour phone call on Tuesday, discussing the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, including tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
According to the Kremlin, the call was “substantial” and touched on key global security concerns. Macron, for his part, called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and urged the initiation of diplomatic negotiations to bring the war to an end. Ahead of the call, Macron consulted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and followed up afterward to brief him on the exchange. He also discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The two leaders addressed growing tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The Kremlin noted Putin’s insistence that Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear development must be respected, as long as it remains in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, Macron underscored the gravity of the nuclear threat and called for full cooperation from Tehran with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
France views the Iranian issue as serious enough to warrant direct involvement from all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Macron emphasized a diplomatic solution encompassing not only nuclear concerns but also Iran’s missile program and regional activities. Both sides agreed to continue coordinating efforts on this front.
The conversation also covered the ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin repeated his stance that the conflict stems from years of Western disregard for Russia’s security interests. He argued that any potential peace agreement must account for the “new territorial realities” — a reference to Russia’s annexation of occupied Ukrainian regions. Macron firmly rejected that notion, reiterating France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Despite stark differences, the two leaders agreed to continue their dialogue on both Ukraine and Iran. Macron’s outreach follows a pattern of prior engagement with Putin, including a controversial visit to Moscow shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
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