Peskov: Putin ready for talks with Macron

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“He [Macron] spoke about his readiness to talk to Putin. It is very important, probably, to recall what the President [Putin] said during the direct line. He also expressed his readiness to engage in dialogue with Macron. Therefore, if there is mutual political will, then this can only be assessed positively”, Peskov said.

Two days earlier, Macron said Europe would need to find its own way to engage directly with Putin, rather than relying solely on the United States, which is actively facilitating peace efforts.

“Either a lasting peace will be achieved, or we will find ways for Europeans to resume dialogue with Russia - through transparency and in coordination with Ukraine. It would be useful to speak with Putin again,” Macron said, stressing that Europe demands a seat at the table in peace negotiations over Ukraine.

Macron’s remarks came after EU leaders decided on Friday to provide Ukraine with €90 billion in loans for 2026–2027, abandoning the idea of confiscating frozen Russian assets.