Macron slows down the pace of dialogue with Putin… Europe reassesses its position before any new negotiations.

Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed that there is no rush to open direct dialogue with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, stressing the need for Europeans to first define their demands and vision before embarking on any potential negotiations with Moscow.

Macron’s remarks came after an informal European summit in Brussels, where he explained that dialogue with Russia “is not a matter of days,” and that his country is currently working to create the necessary political and diplomatic conditions before taking any formal steps toward direct contact.

The French president indicated that the priority now lies in unifying the European position and formulating clear objectives for any future negotiations, particularly regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and the long-term restructuring of the European security architecture.

He added that Europe needs to define what it wants to achieve before beginning any dialogue with the Kremlin, emphasizing that thorough preparation is key to the success of any negotiation process, given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the complex geopolitical landscape. Macron had previously hinted at the possibility of resuming contacts with Putin, sending his diplomatic advisor to Moscow to lay the technical groundwork for any future talks. However, he has now stressed that the time is not yet right for direct dialogue.

The French president’s statements reflect the cautious approach Europe is taking toward Russia, amid attempts to maintain an independent European role in any potential political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.