French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine “as soon as possible” and authorize negotiations that would allow for a “solid and lasting” resolution to the conflict, during a phone conversation lasting over two hours focused on the war and the situation in the Middle East.
According to the Élysée, Macron reiterated France’s “firm support” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and called for a resumption of diplomatic dialogue to end the war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded the neighboring country.
Putin, for his part, blamed the West for having ignored Russia’s security concerns for years and accused allied countries of prolonging the war by sending weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin stated that any possible solution must consider “the new territorial realities,” implicitly referring to the territories occupied by Moscow in eastern Ukraine.
During the call, both leaders also discussed the situation in Iran. They agreed that, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, their countries have a particular responsibility in the face of the growing tension in the region. Macron emphasized the need for Tehran to resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and fulfill its nuclear obligations.
Although both supported a diplomatic route to resolve doubts about the Iranian nuclear program, the Kremlin emphasized that Iran has a “legitimate right” to develop its atomic industry for peaceful purposes. The statements come at a time of increasing regional instability, following the recent bombings between Israel and the United States on Iranian territory.