According to the French leader, Russia’s war against Ukraine has entered a new phase. First, he said, the conflict has reached a point where “this war of attrition has entered its final stage.” Losses and exhaustion on both sides, Emmanuel Macron said, raise the question of how to bring the conflict to an end.
Second, Macron added, the United States has expressed readiness to stop the war.
Macron said his logic is fairly simple.
“Do we want to delegate these discussions to others? Our geography will not change — whether we like Russia or not, it will still be here tomorrow,” the French leader said.
For that reason, Macron explained, “it is important to structure the revival of a European dialogue with the Russians, without being naive, without putting pressure on Ukrainians, but with the aim of not depending on third parties in this discussion.”
He added that for this reason he had “proposed to several European colleagues” to revive such a dialogue.
“For some, it was still too early to send their diplomatic advisers, as we did,” Macron said.
He also expressed hope that the European Union would adopt an “organized European approach” to contacts with Russia.
“There should not be too many interlocutors; a mandate is needed, simple representation — we will see how we organize ourselves, but there must be an opportunity to resume dialogue with Russia. Why? Because on the day peace comes, that peace will extend to Europe,” Macron said.
In December 2025, Macron said it would be “useful” for Europe to resume dialogue with Vladimir Putin.
British political analyst Mark Galeotti said the French president’s remarks indicate that Europe is beginning to conclude that ignoring the Russian leader simply does not work.
Galeotti noted that Macron has repeatedly tried to establish dialogue with Russia. When those efforts failed, he became a more outspoken critic of Putin. However, despite this, Macron again contacted Putin in July 2025 regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
On Dec. 21, 2025, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader was ready for talks with Macron “if there is mutual political will.”
On Feb. 3, 2026, Macron said preparations to resume dialogue between Europeans and Putin were continuing at a “technical level,” despite Russia’s lack of real readiness for peace negotiations.