On Monday, April 26, French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, held a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, discussing, in particular, the situation in Donbas.
This was reported by the French publication Auest-France.
During the telephone conversation, Macron called on the President of Russia to deescalate the situation with Ukraine. Macron also urged Putin to “commit in good faith and in a sustainable way toward reducing tensions with Ukraine,” notably by withdrawing troops and heavy weaponry from the Ukrainian border. A Russian troop buildup in recent weeks has fueled fears of renewed hostilities and worried Ukraine and the West.
In addition, the Heads of State also agreed to announce initiatives aimed to find the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Macron also expressed his support Monday for fellow European countries whose diplomats have been targeted by Russia in a series of tit-for-tat expulsions, according to Macron’s office.
In addition, Emmanuel Macron expressed “grave concern” about the health of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. In a conversation with Putin, the French president insisted on the need to respect Navalny’s “fundamental rights,” according to Macron’s office. Russian authorities on Monday ordered Navalny’s offices to halt their activities, as part of a legal battle amid a sweeping crackdown on Putin’s chief domestic foe.
As was earlier reported by Apostrophe, French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed he wanted to to visit Ukraine, which may happen in early summer.