French President Emmanuel Macron stated that "it is beneficial for Europe to resume dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to find a suitable new basis for it in the coming weeks".
According to the agency "France Press", Macron said: "I see that it is in our interest, as Europeans and Ukrainians, to find a suitable ground for resuming dialogue. Europeans need to come up with a way to achieve this in the coming weeks".
Macron explained that "despite the European Union's ongoing commitment to finance and support Ukraine, it is necessary in the coming weeks to find ways and mechanisms that allow for a full resumption of dialogue with Russia".
Macron's statements apparently indicate a shift in the French stance regarding the Ukrainian settlement, as Paris insists on continuing military and financial support to Kyiv in its effort to defeat Russia, as revealed in statements Macron made a few days ago through the platform "X" expressing optimism about the recent Berlin meetings which observers believe aim to thwart Trump's settlement plan in Ukraine and present European alternatives to coerce Russia into "submission".
It is worth mentioning that in July last year, the first phone call took place between Putin and Macron after three years.
The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and the tension between Iran and Israel, and the American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
