French President Emmanuel Macron is being positioned as a possible lead negotiator in prospective European Union talks with Russia aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The development comes as European capitals increasingly seek a more autonomous diplomatic track from Washington’s ongoing peace efforts, particularly amid shifting U.S. policies under President Donald Trump.
Citing a source within the Élysée Palace, The Telegraph reported that Macron could become the main point of contact between the Kremlin and the so-called “coalition of the willing” — a bloc of European nations committed to supporting Kiev, both militarily and diplomatically.
The French leader is reportedly open to engaging in dialogue with Russia “when the time is right,” though that moment, according to the source, has not yet arrived.
This cautious openness stands in contrast to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who, according to the same report, currently has “no plans” to enter into any form of negotiation with Moscow.
The divergence in approach reflects broader strategic debates within Europe about how best to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as how to respond to the evolving roles of the United States and Russia in the conflict.
In March, both Macron and Starmer signaled their willingness to lead a European security coalition in support of Ukraine, even suggesting the potential deployment of troops or air support in the event of a formal peace agreement with Russia.
That proposal marked a significant departure from earlier NATO-led coordination and pointed to a growing European desire for a more independent posture on security matters.
The idea of Macron assuming a diplomatic leadership role gained further traction this week when Finnish President Alexander Stubb publicly endorsed the notion.
“My personal preference would be that our representatives of the coalition of the willing would be doing that. In other words, France or the United Kingdom,” Stubb said, while also stressing the importance of European-led peace efforts.
European backers of Ukraine reportedly hope to apply increased diplomatic and strategic pressure on Moscow, either to encourage genuine negotiations or to complement U.S. diplomacy with a more assertive European stance.
While France and the UK remain Ukraine’s most vocal and committed allies, some European officials privately hope that Trump — perceived as increasingly transactional in foreign affairs — might eventually lose patience with Moscow and consider escalating American military support if negotiations stall.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed the notion that any concrete diplomatic overtures have been made by European governments.
“There have been no such signals so far,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday, referring to contact from either the EU or the UK regarding potential talks.
Despite official denials, diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Washington has already resumed, albeit cautiously.
In March, U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia and agreed to begin the process of normalizing bilateral relations.
These talks reportedly resulted in a partial ceasefire on the battlefield, although implementation has been inconsistent.
Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of violating the truce and has alleged that British military experts were involved in a recent Ukrainian strike, an accusation that London has not publicly addressed.
Moscow has also strongly opposed any moves by NATO-aligned countries to deploy forces within Ukraine’s territory, warning that such a move would be viewed as a direct provocation and could lead to a wider confrontation involving NATO members.
The Russian government has repeatedly stated that any European military intervention in Ukraine would be regarded as a hostile escalation.
As the diplomatic landscape continues to evolve, Macron’s potential role as a European negotiator with Russia could signal a recalibration of the EU’s approach to the war — one that balances military support with an eventual path to dialogue, while navigating the divergent agendas of Washington, Brussels, and the Kremlin.
Whether this initiative will materialize into substantive negotiations remains uncertain, but it reflects a growing urgency among European leaders to explore political solutions as the war grinds into its third year.
Share This Post