Overview

• On July 1, Macron and Putin held their first direct phone call since September 2022, speaking for over two hours.
• Macron pressed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, urged the launch of peace negotiations, and reiterated France’s support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
• Putin attributed the war to Western policies that ignored Russia’s security interests and insisted any settlement must reflect Russia’s new territorial realities.
• Both leaders discussed Iran’s nuclear program, with Macron demanding full NPT compliance and IAEA cooperation while Putin defended Tehran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy.
• They agreed to coordinate diplomatic efforts on Ukraine and Iran within UN frameworks and to maintain ongoing high-level contacts without securing an immediate ceasefire.