Putin and Macron spoke by phone for the first time in three years

Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron

As reported by TUT.AZ, information about a telephone conversation between the leaders of the two states appeared on the official Kremlin website.

During the conversation, special attention was paid to the Ukrainian issue. "Vladimir Putin reminded that the Ukrainian conflict is a direct consequence of the policy of Western states," the Kremlin statement says.

When discussing the possibilities for a peaceful settlement, the Russian president "confirmed the principled approaches to possible agreements, which should be comprehensive and long-term in nature, provide for the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities."

The heads of state also touched upon the situation in the Middle East, including tensions in relations between Iran and Israel, as well as issues of the Iranian nuclear program.

According to the Elysée Palace, the conversation lasted more than two hours. During the conversation, Macron "emphasized France's unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and called for a ceasefire and the start of a negotiation process, BFMTV reports.

It is worth noting that the previous telephone contact between the presidents took place in September 2022, and the last personal meeting was held on February 7 of the same year in Moscow, when the negotiations lasted almost six hours. At that time, issues of European security were discussed in the context of the escalating situation around Ukraine.