Vladimir Putin began the conversation by wishing Emmanuel Macron a happy birthday. The two leaders also exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings.
They continued discussing ways of enhancing stability and security in Europe, with a focus on the drafts of a Russia-US treaty on security guarantees and an agreement on measures to ensure the security of Russia and the NATO member countries, which were sent to the addressees, including France, and then published. Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart of Russia’s diplomatic efforts in this area.
The discussion also touched on the recent complications with settling the internal conflict in Ukraine, caused by Kiev’s unwillingness to honour the Minsk agreements. The President of Russia emphasised that the possibility of holding a new summit in the Normandy format depends on Kiev taking practical steps to implement the Minsk Package of Measures.
The situation in Mali was reviewed at Emmanuel Macron’s initiative.
During an exchange on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, the leaders expressed satisfaction with how the situation has stabilised and with the efforts to return to peaceful life and restore economic and transport links in the region. It was noted that Russia and France are coordinating actions on these issues and intend to continue doing so.
Vladimir Putin directed attention to the restrictions that continue to be imposed on Russia Today news channel in France. Hope was expressed that our channel will be given the same opportunities to work without discrimination that French media enjoy in Russia.