This is reported by Kyiv24
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine as soon as possible. According to the Élysée Palace, this phone call lasted over two hours and was the first since 2022.
Macron Calls for Peace Talks
In a statement, the French president emphasized that Macron insisted on the swift establishment of a ceasefire and the immediate start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to achieve a lasting and sustainable resolution to the conflict. He also highlighted that France remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“He called for the establishment of a ceasefire as soon as possible and the initiation of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a strong and lasting resolution to the conflict,” the French president’s statement reads.
Kremlin’s Position and International Community’s Reaction
For its part, the Kremlin described the conversation as “substantive” and reported that during the discussion, Putin mentioned the need to “address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis” and take into account “new territorial realities.” According to the Russian leader, the conflict is a “direct consequence of the policies of Western states.”
On the eve of this, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg publicly called on Russia for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the initiation of trilateral negotiations to end the war. Kellogg emphasized that the Russian Federation should not delay while continuing attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. The Kremlin, in turn, denies accusations of blocking the peace process.
Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have repeatedly noted that Russia is making demands that equate to the complete capitulation of Ukraine and will continue to press these conditions as long as Putin believes he can achieve military victory. Experts believe that a change in this position is only possible with further support for Ukraine from the West, particularly the U.S.
In its analytical reports, ISW also emphasizes that Russia is deliberately dragging out peace negotiations to maintain the possibility of advancing on the front and to secure additional concessions.
In an interview with British broadcaster Sky News published on June 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian Federation has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire as demanded, particularly by the U.S., as he believes that Russia holds a “strategic advantage” in the war.