The visit of Bonn, who has been leading Macron's diplomatic team since 2019, took place on February 3. According to L'Express, he held meetings with representatives of the Kremlin, including Yuri Ushakov, as claimed by two sources familiar with the situation, Reuters reports.
However, the French president's administration did not confirm or deny the information about the negotiations. Reuters cites statements from representatives who noted that, as Macron stated the day before during a conversation with journalists, discussions are taking place at a technical level with full consideration of the opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other key European partners.
The last conversation between Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin took place on July 1, 2025, and according to the Kremlin, it was "substantive." In this dialogue, Putin again characterized the "Ukrainian conflict" as a result of "the policies of Western countries that have ignored Russia's security interests for many years."
In December 2025, Macron emphasized the importance of dialogue with Putin so that Europe is not excluded from discussions on Ukraine, and in early January announced his intention to hold such a meeting in the near future. The Kremlin also confirmed Putin's readiness for dialogue, and on February 3, Macron stated that preparations for negotiations with the Russian leader at a technical level are currently underway.
