Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a “very good conversation” with French President Emmanuel Macron, discussing bilateral cooperation and global issues, including efforts to bring an early resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
“Had a very good conversation with President Macron. We reviewed and positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas. Exchanged views on international and regional issues, including efforts for bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine. The India-France Strategic Partnership will continue to play a key role in fostering global peace and stability,” PM Modi stated on X.
The discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron took place just days after the French leader announced that 26 nations had pledged to provide Ukraine with security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump refraining from committing to American backing.
President Macron stated that the extent of US support for these security assurances, designed to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression, would be clarified in the coming days. He made the remarks during a press conference in Paris, where he was joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier, French President Macron convened a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” bringing together European leaders prepared to offer guarantees to Ukraine, including the potential deployment of troops, should a ceasefire be established.
Putin Warns Foreign Troops in Ukraine Would Be Targeted by Russian Forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Friday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine, particularly while the conflict remains active, would be regarded as “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s forces.
Putin’s remarks came only hours after European leaders renewed their commitment to the potential formation of a peacekeeping force, an idea that Moscow has consistently described as “unacceptable.”
“If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin stated during a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.
The Russian leader also rejected the concept of deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine after a formal peace agreement is reached, asserting that “no one should doubt” Moscow’s willingness to honour a treaty aimed at ending its three-and-a-half-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He further emphasised that any eventual settlement would require security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said Moscow would need “legally binding documents” to outline such agreements. “Of course, you can’t just take anybody’s word for something,” he told Russian news outlet Argumenty i Fakty.