JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin described Monday's talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Kremlin as useful, substantive and business-like, saying that some of Macron's ideas could form the basis for further joint steps.
The French leader traveled to Moscow for talks amid an East-West standoff over Russia's military buildup near Ukraine, as well as the Kremlin's campaign for security 'guarantees' from Washington that would include a halt to NATO expansion.
In a joint press conference after the talks, President Putin said President Macron's ideas on security were realistic. The two countries' leaders will speak again, after President Macron traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders.
"A number of ideas, proposals, which may be too early to talk about, I think are very likely to be the basis for our next joint steps," he said as quoted by Reuters on February 8.
"We have agreed that, after his trip to the Ukrainian capital, we will call each other again and exchange views on this issue," President Putin continued.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he hoped talks in Moscow could ease tensions in Ukraine.
"This discussion can start in the direction we need to go, which is towards de-escalation," Macron said.
President Macron added that he hoped to avoid war and build elements of trust, stability and visibility for all. He also said he had made President Putin's chief "concrete security guarantee" proposal.
"President Putin assured me of his readiness to engage in this and his desire to maintain the stability and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he said.
Moreover, President Macron told Putin, creating a new security architecture in Europe cannot be done by refusing to cancel the country's right to join NATO.
For information, Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine despite having deployed more than 100,000 troops near the border between the two countries. But Moscow has said it will take unspecified military action if its demands are not met, including NATO's pledge to never recognize Ukraine.
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