French President Macron may become Europe's chief negotiator with russia - media

French President Emmanuel Macron intends to represent Europe in talks with russian dictator vladimir putin on peace in Ukraine.

This is reported by The Telegraph portal.

According to media reports, some members of the "Coalition of the Willing" insist that the European leader lead the interaction with russia as part of efforts to support Kyiv.

The Telegraph writes that Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been singled out as the most likely interlocutors with Moscow. However, the British Prime Minister does not plan to hold talks with putin as part of Britain's efforts to support Ukraine's defense.

At the same time, a source at the Elysee Palace said that Macron is ready to take up this position "when the time comes."

The media notes that from the very beginning of the full-scale war, the French President has positioned himself as a mediator between Europe and the Kremlin leader. He has kept diplomatic channels with Moscow open longer than any of Kyiv’s most ardent supporters in Europe, despite sharp criticism of his actions.

However, Macron stopped all direct contacts with the Kremlin when it became clear to him that putin had no intention of stopping the invasion. But when asked if the time had come to resume contacts with the russian leader, a representative of the Elysee Palace replied: “By all accounts, not yet.”

A month earlier, after a meeting of the European Council, Macron told reporters:

“I am ready to talk to president putin when we, together with President Zelenskyy and our European partners, consider that the time is right,” the French President said.

His statement came at a time when US President Donald Trump announced the start of peace talks with putin. The Telegraph also noted that Trump is currently the only world leader who is directly interacting with the Kremlin leader on the mechanism of the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.