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Macron confirms he has much to talk about with Putin, considers new talks

According to the French president, right now neither Kiev nor Moscow show willingness to resume direct negotiations

PARIS, June 17. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed readiness to continue talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, noting that he would like to discuss, besides Ukraine, food security issues.

"Every time when it is necessary, I will do it. Firstly, because they (Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky - TASS) do not talk to each other. And it is important to send messages, to push Vladimir Putin for possible negotiations," Macron said in an interview with BFM, published on Friday.

"Secondly, we could negotiate again with Russia on the topic of food security. With the direct participation of the UN Secretary General. And the possibility of exempting grain exports could be the basis for discussion," he added.

According to the French leader, right now neither Kiev nor Moscow show willingness to resume direct negotiations. He expressed the opinion that it is impossible to continue negotiations against the background of active hostilities in Donbass. Speaking about his frequent contacts with the Russian leader, Macron noted that "these discussions have always had a strategic character and were meant to avoid war, to find a path to peace." "But never have we communicated on behalf of Ukraine," he stressed.

"The role of France is to help Ukraine and at the same time to keep in touch with Russia," the president explained. Simultaneously, he said, France's role is also to "put limits" in the negotiations, acting as a "state-mediator who seeks peace."

"We will do everything so that Ukraine can win this war. But whatever form that victory takes, depending on the decisions of the Ukrainian leadership, they will have to sit down at the same table. I hear from the other side statements that the goal of this war is to destroy Russia, but I say that this is a wrong point of view. This position will not allow a negotiated settlement," Macron said.

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France Emmanuel Macron

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