Macron talks with US, UK, Germany, Italy to coordinate support to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron participated in a conference call with leaders from Germany, the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom on Monday, said a readout from the French government.

According to the Elysee’s readout of the call, “coordination between European partners and allies continues unabated regarding the war in Ukraine.”

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As per the summary, “the leaders discussed the critical humanitarian situation in Mariupol, and the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access. They also reiterated their demands for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops.”

According to the Elysee, preparations for the next NATO and G7 extraordinary meetings were also discussed.

A spokesperson for the French presidency said in a separate statement that President Macron met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the Elysée Palace on Monday to discuss the Ukraine conflict.

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The Finnish President was hailed in the statement as “recognized on the international scene for his knowledge of Russia and his role in maintaining a channel of dialogue with Moscow.”According to the statement, Macron and Niinistö “discussed their respective exchanges with the Russian President,” as well as their “shared goal of an immediate ceasefire and of a negotiated solution to the conflict” and “the strengthening of European defense.”

According to Macron’s office, he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to end the siege of Mariupol, enable humanitarian access, and order an immediate cease-fire. Macron spoke on the phone for 70 minutes with Putin. Earlier in the day, Putin spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who, like Putin, called for an immediate cease-fire.

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Macron, who has spoken with Putin several times, reiterated his concerns over repeated attacks on civilians and Russia’s inability to respect human rights in Ukraine, according to the presidential Elysee Palace.

According to the report, Putin, in turn, blamed Ukraine for the conflict.

Macron, who is running for re-election in April, said during a town hall-style meeting just before the call that he talks to Putin because he believes there is a path to peace between Ukrainian resistance, severe Western sanctions, and diplomatic pressure. “We must do everything to find it,” he stated.