Overview
- Two EU diplomats said Emmanuel Bonne visited Moscow on Tuesday and met top Putin aide Yury Ushakov to prepare a potential leaders’ conversation.
- The Élysée declined to confirm the trip, stating only that technical discussions proceed transparently in consultation with President Zelenskyy and key European partners.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also refused to confirm the visit, while Sergei Lavrov called France’s outreach “pathetic” and said Putin would take a serious call.
- Macron said Europe must restore its own channels with the Kremlin, even as he sees no “real willingness” from Russia to negotiate a ceasefire in the near term.
- In January the Kremlin called European requests to resume dialogue “positive,” as some analysts argue Europe moved too late and may struggle to shape any eventual settlement.