Moscow / Paris, July 02 (V7N) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a rare phone conversation on Tuesday, discussing the Iran-Israel conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin statement cited by Reuters on Wednesday (July 2).

The call, which lasted approximately two hours, marked the first direct conversation between the two leaders since September 2022.

During the talks, President Macron urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and begin negotiations for a permanent resolution to the conflict. Macron emphasized the importance of de-escalation amid growing concerns over the humanitarian impact of the war.

In response, the Kremlin said Putin underscored the need to respect Iran's right to pursue a civilian nuclear program, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel.

A French diplomatic source revealed that Macron had consulted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both before and after the call, keeping Kyiv informed of the dialogue. Macron also reportedly discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump to coordinate positions on both Ukraine and Middle East stability.

The Kremlin did not disclose further details of the discussion, but said the conversation was “frank” and touched on key international security concerns.

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