Macron calls Putin’s proposal for Ukraine talks in Istanbul "not enough"

French President Emmanuel Macron has reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest offer to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, calling the proposal a “first step” but stressing that it falls short of what is needed to move toward peace.

Speaking after the summit of pro-Ukraine allies on 10 May, Macron told Le Figaro, that while Putin's call for talks suggests he is “looking for a way out,” it also reflects a continued attempt to “buy time.”

When asked directly whether Russia is intentionally stalling, Macron answered, “Yes, yes, it does.”

Putin proposed that representatives of Kyiv and Moscow meet for direct negotiations on 15 May in Istanbul, Turkey—where peace talks between the two countries were previously held in 2022. However, the Russian leader made no mention of the 30-day unconditional ceasefire that the so-called Coalition of the Willing—including France, Germany, the UK, Poland, and Ukraine—demanded during the summit.

European leaders have insisted that any talks must begin with an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire across air, sea, and land. The US has backed Ukraine’s position, and Washington and Brussels are preparing to significantly tighten sanctions against Moscow should Putin reject the ceasefire initiative.