Macron urges renewed dialogue with Putin as Galeotti warns Europe’s isolation strategy is failing

Galeotti was responding to Macron’s comments following negotiations in Brussels over extending financial aid to Ukraine.

“Of course, there are some who equate talking to Putin as somehow legitimising him, or meaning the same thing as negotiations,” Galeotti wrote. “However, Macron was simply recognising that Russia is not going away.”

The French president also pointed to the current imbalance, where U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoys are leading the peace process while European leaders rush across the Atlantic to try to dissuade Trump from making sweeping concessions to Putin. Macron called this setup “not ideal.”

Galeotti noted that Macron has made multiple attempts over the years to initiate dialogue with Russia. When those efforts failed, he became a more vocal critic of the Russian dictator. Still, as recently as July, Macron once again reached out to Putin — this time regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Those overtures, too, led nowhere, Galeotti observed.

In his view, Putin does not take individual European nations seriously. But now that Europe is effectively bankrolling Ukraine’s war effort, there may be an opportunity to get the Kremlin’s attention — if the EU acts in unison.

Galeotti added that there is a growing sense across Europe that ignoring Putin has proven ineffective. What’s needed, he argued, is a coherent European position that reflects a broad continental consensus. And at the core of that position should be the strategic triangle of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. While this may not yield immediate results, Galeotti wrote, it could lay the groundwork for reshaping Europe’s relationship with Russia — one that can’t be left at the mercy of the White House.

On Dec. 19, Macron said it would be “useful” for Europe to reopen dialogue with Putin.

“Either the ongoing talks will lead to a lasting peace, or we’ll find ways to resume dialogue between Europeans and Russia — with transparency and in cooperation with Ukraine. In that case, it will once again be useful to talk with Vladimir Putin,” Macron told reporters in Brussels.

“Otherwise, we’ll end up negotiating among ourselves, and then sending envoys who’ll take the issue back to the Russians,” he added.

The French president emphasized that both Europe and Ukraine are interested in finding the right framework to restart discussions.

On Dec. 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian dictator would be open to talks with Macron “if there is mutual political will.”