Macron noted that the preparation process is being carried out "in consultation with President Zelensky and our key European partners," as reported by TF1.
“At the moment, technical discussions are underway to prepare for this dialogue,” added Macron.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that there is currently no specific information about possible contacts between Putin and Macron. He also noted that Russia supports the idea of continuing dialogue and that the initiative to sever contacts did not come from the Russian side.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that European countries providing assistance to Ukraine should have their own communication channel with Russia to protect their interests without shifting responsibility to others.
Additionally, the governments of European countries have also expressed a desire to appoint their representative for contacts with Russia.
Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also emphasized that Europe needs to start a dialogue with Russia. She noted that European leaders should develop a unified position and begin negotiations with both Kyiv and Moscow.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also called on Western countries to engage in dialogue with Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
