Macron Sends Advisor to Moscow Amid Ukraine War | Putin Open to Talks
- Moscow has indicated a willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, but maintains that any negotiations must occur after Russia achieves its stated objectives.
- The Kremlin’s stance, as reported on February 24, 2025, suggests a potential openness to European involvement in peace discussions, though prioritizing establishing trust with the United States first.
- More recently, on April 30, 2025, Peskov conveyed that Putin is open to peace in Ukraine and that “intense work” is underway with the United States, but cautioned...
Moscow has indicated a willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, but maintains that any negotiations must occur after Russia achieves its stated objectives. This position, reiterated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, comes amid shifting international dynamics and continued fighting on the ground.
The Kremlin’s stance, as reported on , suggests a potential openness to European involvement in peace discussions, though prioritizing establishing trust with the United States first. President Vladimir Putin reportedly expressed this willingness during a conversation with Russian media, according to Reuters. He stated he would “always pick up the phone” and consider any serious proposals.
More recently, on , Peskov conveyed that Putin is open to peace in Ukraine and that “intense work” is underway with the United States, but cautioned against expecting rapid progress, as desired by Washington. This suggests a divergence in expectations regarding the timeline for a resolution.
A significant development occurred on , when Putin signaled, for the first time since the early stages of the war, a willingness to engage in direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, this offer was accompanied by continued Russian strikes across Ukraine, including attacks on Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk, and Kherson. A strike on an apartment block in Zaporizhzhia resulted in one death and 20 injuries, including four children. The BBC reported that Zelensky described these attacks as “deliberate Russian terror.”
Zelensky has proposed a 30-day period for a cease to strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure, a proposal that remains unaddressed by Moscow. He also referenced a short-lived Easter truce during which there were no airstrikes, suggesting a potential model for de-escalation.
Prior to these developments, in , Peskov indicated Putin was open to a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky, but only after “necessary work” was done at the expert level and “the appropriate distance” was overcome. This statement was met with skepticism from Kyiv, with Zelensky’s advisor Andriy Yermak characterizing it as “another attempt to buy time.” Yermak affirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a leaders’ meeting, emphasizing support from international partners, including the United States.
The Kremlin’s maneuvering appears, in part, to be a response to pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly issued a 50-day deadline for Moscow. The New York Post reported that the Kremlin may be attempting to stall momentum generated by Trump’s efforts to end the war. Trump also recently shortened a deadline for secondary sanctions targeting countries that purchase Russian oil.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also been actively involved in diplomatic efforts. Sources revealed that Macron sent an advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, to Moscow for a meeting with Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin. This marked the first such meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in . Macron reportedly informed Zelensky of Bonne’s visit. Following this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Putin was prepared for a phone call with Macron, stating he would be open to “serious proposals.” Macron and Putin last spoke in July, their first known conversation in over two and a half years.
Macron previously engaged in numerous phone calls with Putin in , attempting to dissuade him from invading Ukraine and even traveling to Moscow before the invasion. While he maintained communication after the invasion began, those conversations were later suspended.
Despite these diplomatic overtures, the situation on the ground remains volatile. The continued Russian strikes, even as talks are tentatively discussed, underscore the deep distrust between the two sides and the significant obstacles to achieving a lasting peace. The Kremlin’s insistence on achieving its goals before engaging in meaningful negotiations suggests that any potential peace process will be protracted and complex.
The involvement of multiple international actors, including the United States, France, and potentially others, highlights the global implications of the conflict and the widespread desire for a resolution. However, the divergent timelines and preconditions set by Russia and Ukraine, coupled with the ongoing violence, cast doubt on the prospects for a swift end to the war.