ALDEN BIESEN, Belgium, Feb 13, (V7N): Emmanuel Macron said Thursday there was no urgency to reopen direct dialogue with Vladimir Putin, stressing that European partners must first clarify their shared objectives.

Macron had announced in December his intention to resume exchanges with the Russian leader, which were largely suspended following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“It’s not a matter of days, there are preparations involved,” Macron told reporters after talks with European Union leaders in Belgium. “I think what we need now is to work among ourselves, on what we want to ask.”

Earlier this month, the French president dispatched his diplomatic adviser to Moscow to begin laying the groundwork for potential discussions.

“We need to prepare this, as Europeans, in order to be ready, when the time is right, for a discussion with the Russians,” he said.

“And what do we want? We want security guarantees for Ukraine, but we also want things for Europeans,” Macron added.

Among his priorities, he cited “issues of prosperity, the future of our Europe, and security architecture.”

In an interview published earlier this week by several newspapers, Macron suggested any renewed dialogue with Putin should be “well organised” with European partners, but without involving “too many interlocutors.”

END/WD/RH