Zelensky, Macron hold phone talks ahead of Trump-Putin conversation

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of an upcoming conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We coordinated our positions ahead of the conversation between President Trump and Putin and the upcoming meetings in Europe," Zelensky said in his evening address. Zelensky expressed gratitude to Macron and France for their support for Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Separately, Macron wrote on social media platform X that during their talks, Zelensky reiterated his commitment to accepting the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. "It is now up to Russia to prove that it truly wants peace," Macron said.

He added that France, together with its partners, must work to develop a "concrete plan" to provide solid security guarantees for Ukraine and ensure lasting peace in Europe.

Earlier in the day, US media reported that Trump said he planned to talk with Putin on Tuesday about ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia on Monday confirmed that a phone call between the US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will take place on Tuesday. "Yes, this is indeed the case. Such a conversation is being prepared for Tuesday," state-run news agency TASS quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. (IANS)

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