RT.com
21 Dec 2025, 13:44 GMT+10
Any contact must be free of "lecturing" and focus on "understanding each other's positions," spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to dialogue with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, but only if it is conducted respectfully and serves a clear purpose, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
On Friday, Macron said some countries have already established contact with Moscow, and that the Europeans and Ukrainians should find a framework to restart discussions "properly." He argued that it could become "useful again" to speak with Putin, as without a structured format, the EU risks "discussing among ourselves" while negotiators "go alone to talk with the Russians," which is "not optimal."
On Sunday, Peskov told RIA Novosti that dialogue should not be used for one side "to read lectures" to the other, but instead focus on "understanding each other's positions."
"Putin is always ready to explain his positions in detail, sincerely and consistently," the spokesman added.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Putin has repeatedly stressed that he is open to dialogue, but only with "polite people with some elementary skills of decency."
Macron spoke after an EU summit this week failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine due to internal divisions, and instead backed a 90 billion ($105 billion) loan raised on capital markets to finance Ukraine's widening budget gap. While the move was hailed as a breakthrough, several EU states opted out of the funding plan.
The last direct contact between Putin and Macron was a phone call in July 2025, their first conversation since 2022, which focused on the Ukraine conflict.
Get a daily dose of St Petersburg Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to St Petersburg Star.
More InformationKyiv [Ukraine], December 21 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that the United States has proposed a possible...
Any contact must be free of lecturing and focus on understanding each other's positions, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said ...
Ukrainian leader seems confused over President Vladimir Putin's election-day security proposal ...
U.S. hits over 70 IS-linked targets in Syria in massive retaliatory strikes The U.S. military struck more than 70 suspected Islamic...
The EU and NATO warmongers are seeking to undermine President Trump's peace efforts, the US intel chief has said ...
Kirill Dmitriev is discussing a Ukraine peace settlement with President Donald Trump's confidants ...
LOS ANGELES, California: A doctor who pleaded guilty to supplying ketamine to actor Matthew Perry before his death due to overdose...
BROOKLINE, Massachusetts: Authorities launched a homicide investigation into the fatal shooting of a professor from the Massachusetts...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a candid interview with Vanity Fair on December 16, Susie Wiles, U.S. President Donald Trump's influential chief...
LONDON, U.K.: As hospitals brace for a sharp rise in flu admissions, doctors in England have launched a five-day walkout, escalating...
HONG KONG: Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner, was found guilty on December 15 of conspiracy to collude with...
SYDNEY, Australia: After a father-and-son duo slaughtered at least 15 people celebrating Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December...
