Putin's proposed Ukraine talks 'not enough': President Emmanuel Macron

French President Macron criticizes Putin's proposal for direct negotiations with Ukraine after calls for a 30-day ceasefire.

President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, after Kyiv and its European allies called for a 30-day ceasefire, is "not enough", French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday (May 11, 2025).

"An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition," Mr. Macron told reporters as he stepped off a train in the Polish city of Przemysl on his return from a trip to Ukraine, adding that Putin was "looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time".

Western allies have repeatedly accused Putin of delaying tactics with regards to any potential bid to end the conflict in Ukraine, which has dragged on since February 2022.

Asked if this was another such example, Mr. Macron replied: "Yes, it is."

Mr. Macron visited Kyiv on Saturday with the leaders of Germany, Britain and Poland, with the four of them and President Volodymyr Zelensky calling for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting on Monday.

Mr. Macron warned that Russia would face "massive sanctions" if it did not comply. The United States and other countries back the proposal, the leaders said.

Speaking at the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday, Mr. Putin proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul in the coming days but did not address the 30-day ceasefire proposal.