Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday admitted that discussions with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin made no progress toward achieving a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. "We shared our disagreements, and I can't say there was any progress in the discussion because a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations are needed first," Macron said during a brief press interaction.

According to Anadolu Agency, Macron reiterated the "absolute cruciality" of the sanctions Europe is currently imposing and the ones prepared by the US. He also highlighted his initial reason for calling Putin was to discuss the issue of Iran and the importance of upholding the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Putin had committed to. Macron emphasized the significance of securing this agreement as part of France's responsibility to maintain consistency.

On Tuesday, Macron and Putin spoke over the phone, discussing Ukraine and the Middle East in the context of the Iran-Israel conflict and US strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities. This call marked the first interaction between the two presidents in over two years, following their last known conversation in September 2022.