Russia dismisses Macron's outreach to Putin as publicity stunt

Thursday 15 January 2026 - 12:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Russia dismisses Macron's outreach to Putin as publicity stunt

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to engage Vladimir Putin in talks, branding it a "publicity stunt" and "megaphone diplomacy" during a January 14, 2026, press conference in Moscow. Despite the rebuke, Moscow expressed openness to negotiations with U.S. envoys. Lavrov's comments followed a meeting with Namibian Foreign Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi and come amid intensifying European diplomatic maneuvering over who should represent the continent's interests in potential Ukraine peace talks.

"President Macron has once again stated he will certainly contact Putin in a few weeks. This isn't the first time he's said that," Lavrov told journalists, according to Russia's state news agency TASS. "When someone like Mr. Macron declares: 'I will talk, we have to talk to Putin anyway, and I'll propose something in a few weeks,' it's not serious. It's posturing, megaphone diplomacy that has never yielded anything good." Lavrov argued that substantive war-and-peace discussions belong in proper diplomatic channels, not public announcements. Macron had announced on January 6 his intent to speak with Putin "as soon as possible," with contacts expected "in the coming weeks."

Lavrov's tone contrasted sharply with Russia's stance toward Washington. At the same briefing, he affirmed Moscow's readiness for contacts with Trump advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying: "I'm sure if they show such interest, it will be reciprocated." Bloomberg reported the pair seeking a Moscow visit this month to meet Putin, though plans remain unconfirmed.

European leaders, led by Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are pushing for direct engagement with Moscow. "I think the time has come for Europe to talk with Russia too," Meloni said last week, arguing that speaking only to Ukraine limits Europe's positive role in talks. Politico reported France and Italy securing European Commission and member-state backing for an EU special negotiator on Ukraine. This reflects growing European fears that a U.S.-Russia deal could sideline EU security interests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced no opposition to European talks with Russia, telling Bloomberg: "I'm not against Europe talking to Russia, especially now with U.S. pressure and Europe discussing security guarantees."

Diplomatic efforts highlight Europe's anxiety over marginalization as Trump envoys pursue bilateral talks with Kyiv and Moscow. Witkoff and Kushner met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Paris last week to discuss the U.S. peace framework, following European leader and Zelenskyy meetings. A European Commission spokesperson said on January 12 that Putin talks would happen "at some point" but "we're not there yet," citing no signs of Russian seriousness. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed this skepticism, stating recent Russian missile strikes after a Paris meeting show Moscow "is clearly not serious about negotiations right now."