Macron may "re-establish contact" with Putin in coming weeks

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he may "re-establish contact" with Russia's leader Vladimir Putin in the coming weeks.

Asked in an interview with broadcaster France 2 about a potential conversation with Putin, Macron said: "We are currently making arrangements to re-establish contact in the coming weeks."

He stressed that his goal is peace in Ukraine, but not at the cost of its capitulation.

"In the short term, we must continue to support Ukraine in its defence efforts. That is exactly what we are doing. […] We do not want this peace to be Ukraine's capitulation," Macron stressed.

On 19 December, Macron said that Europe must find a way to engage directly with the Russian leader.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with Macron "if there is mutual political will".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he considers it important to preserve US participation in "peace talks" while commenting on Macron's proposal to resume engagement with Russia.