Context
On November 15, 2024, the then German Chancellor Olaf Sholz for the first time since December 2022, he talked on the phone with Putin. He was the last of the large European leaders who communicated with the head of the Kremlin. During an hourly conversation, Scholz condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine and called on Putin to stop and withdraw the occupation forces from the Ukrainian territory, the German government website said.
According to media reports, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky asked Sholts not to call Putin on the phone, as it will only help him, reducing the insulation, and would not bring peace. Zelensky called this call “Pandora's box” due to the risk of weakening Putin's insulation.
On March 9, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference in Brussels said that he was ready to talk with Putin when he and Zelensky and European partners will consider that time had come, wrote Le Monde.
On April 3, Finland President Alexander Stubb said that the “coalition of those who wish” agreed that at least one European leader should resume contact and reach a dialogue with the Russian Federation. According to Stubb, France or Great Britain should speak with Putin.
On May 4, Trump said that European leaders repeatedly turned to him with a request to call Putin because he allegedly did not answer them.
On May 10, Mertz, Macron and Prime Minister of Britain Kir Starkmer, as well as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, arrived in Kyiv. Politicians came to the meeting of the “Coalitions of those who wish”, which includes countries supporting Ukraine in defense from Russian aggression.
During the trip, Macron said that France was ready to help initiate direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in case of reaching a 30-day truce.
