In their first conversation in nearly three years, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed shared concerns regarding Iran while remaining divided over the ongoing war in Ukraine. The two-hour call was prompted by the recent U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites.
As members of the United Nations Security Council, both leaders expressed a commitment to “preserving the global nuclear nonproliferation regime,” according to a statement from the Kremlin. This dialogue marked a significant moment for both leaders, who have been sidelined by the U.S. actions in the region.
For President Macron, the call represented an effort to regain influence in the Middle East, while President Putin aimed to assert Russia's role in global geopolitics amid Western criticism following the invasion of Ukraine.
The conversation posed a diplomatic challenge for Macron, as it signaled a potential shift in the isolation of Moscow that Western leaders have sought to maintain since the onset of the invasion. This was Putin's first discussion with a major European Union leader since his conversation with former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November of the previous year.
Putin has sought to leverage the conflict between Israel and Iran to mitigate his international isolation, positioning Russia as a mediator due to its relationships with both nations.
Macron, who had previously visited Moscow in an attempt to prevent the invasion of Ukraine, used the call to reiterate France’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and urged for an immediate cease-fire.
However, Putin remained steadfast in his stance on Ukraine, reiterating his long-standing narrative that blames the West for the conflict. He indicated that any peace agreement must address the war’s “root causes,” which he often attributes to NATO's presence in Eastern Europe, seeking significant concessions before halting hostilities.
Macron communicated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both before and after his discussion with Putin, as confirmed by a member of his team.
Both leaders expressed intentions to coordinate their efforts regarding Iran, while the Élysée Palace noted that they would continue discussions on the situation in Ukraine.
This conversation occurred as former President Trump, who has engaged with Putin multiple times this year, appeared to retreat from his previous efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine. This followed Putin's recent offer to mediate the conflict between Iran and Israel, which Trump declined, preferring that Putin focus on resolving the situation in Ukraine first.
Ségolène Le Stradic contributed reporting from Paris.