Macron's top adviser holds talks with Kremlin officials in Moscow

French President Emmanuel Macron's chief diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, undertook a visit to Moscow this week for talks with senior Kremlin officials, according to a report by the French weekly L'Express. The trip, which included a meeting with Bonne's Russian counterpart Yuri Ushakov on Tuesday, signals Paris's sustained attempt to keep a line of communication open with the Russian leadership despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

France's strategic diplomatic positioning

The meetings in the Russian capital occur as parallel negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, mediated by the United States, continue in Abu Dhabi. France's independent diplomatic outreach appears designed to prevent Europe from being sidelined in crucial discussions about Ukraine's future. Macron has previously argued that maintaining contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin is essential for securing European strategic interests.

Macron's comments on dialogue with Putin

Speaking during a domestic trip, President Macron addressed the nature of the engagement, stating that a resumption of dialogue with Putin "is being prepared" and that technical-level talks are underway. He emphasized that this process is being conducted "in transparency and in coordination" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European allies. This suggests a balancing act between engaging Moscow and maintaining solidarity with Kyiv and the EU.

Historical context of Franco-Russian contacts

This latest diplomatic exchange follows an extended phone call between Macron and Putin in July, their first conversation since late 2022, which covered the war in Ukraine and Iran's nuclear program. Earlier, in April 2024, the defense ministers of France and Russia also spoke following a terrorist attack in Moscow. While France remains a key NATO ally supporting Ukraine, these continued high-level contacts highlight a distinct French approach to diplomacy, seeking to preserve a potential mediator role separate from the primary US-led negotiation track.