The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated that the leaders of France and Germany have not initiated contacts with Vladimir Putin for a long time.

 He said this in an interview with "Izvestia".

 "We have heard many statements by Scholz and Macron, who said that they will continue to communicate with Putin in order to find some ways and ways out of the situation. However, there have been no initiatives recently. We have heard five or six statements about the readiness to call Putin and Macron to talk, but everyone should know this: there were no requests, orientations or elaboration of the possible terms of such a conversation," said Peskov.

 He also said that Putin remains open to any contacts "that can help Russia achieve its own goals in one way or another."

 "Mostly peacefully, at the negotiating table, but when this is not possible, and by military means, what we are seeing now," said Peskov.

 Last week, Berlin said that despite the lack of results of phone conversations with Putin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will still continue to call the Kremlin.