Putin ready for dialogue with Macron, says Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron provided there is mutual political will, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Macron recently expressed readiness to talk with Putin, who also said he hoped to engage in dialogue with the French president during a direct line with the public on Friday, said Peskov, adding that if "there is mutual political will, Macron's position statement can be viewed positively."

Macron said on Friday after the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels that the EU must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.

The French president noted that in such a case, negotiations with Putin would be necessary and useful, and the EU should establish a common basis for them in advance.

On July 1, the leaders of Russia and France spoke by phone, with talks centering on possible solutions for the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.