Otherwise, you'll have to talk to yourself: Macron wants to talk to Putin again

​​French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European leaders to resume dialogue with Vladimir Putin, otherwise they will have to negotiate with themselves. He stated this in Brussels after the summit of EU leaders.

Macron noted that the search for a suitable format of negotiations with Moscow meets the interests of European countries.

"Either a long—term peace will be achieved (within the framework of the current negotiations, or) we will find ways for the Europeans to resume dialogue with Russia — open and in cooperation with Ukraine," Macron said, quoted by DW❶.

According to the French president, European leaders "it will be useful to talk to Vladimir Putin again," otherwise they will have to negotiate among themselves and with US representatives, who will then discuss the situation with Moscow on their own. Such a scenario is "not ideal," according to Macron.

It is noted that he remains one of the few European leaders who maintain telephone contacts with Putin. The last such conversation took place in July.

❶An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent