Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov states that Putin is willing to talk to Macron, but criticizes his statements as "pathetic diplomacy."

Serghei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, stated that Vladimir Putin is open to responding to phone calls from Emmanuel Macron for serious discussions. However, he criticized Macron's statements about a possible resumption of dialogue with Moscow, calling them "pathetic diplomacy." Lavrov mentioned that there are contacts between Russia and certain European leaders, who request that these discussions remain confidential.

He emphasized that the positions expressed privately by European leaders do not differ from the public ones, accusing them of lacking a clear stance and of trying to sabotage the negotiations between Russia and the USA regarding Ukraine. In the context of the recent negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Lavrov stated that the actions of the Europeans hinder the progress of the dialogue.