MOWCOW/KYIV - Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron provided there is mutual political will, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti on Friday.
Macron recently expressed readiness to talk with Putin, who also said he hoped to engage in dialogue with the French president during a direct line with the public on Friday, said Peskov, adding that if "there is mutual political will, Macron's position statement can be viewed positively."
Macron said on Friday after the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels that the EU must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
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The French president noted that in such a case, negotiations with Putin would be necessary and useful, and the EU should establish a common basis for them in advance.
On July 1, the leaders of Russia and France spoke by phone, with talks centering on possible solutions for the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro did not rule out the possibility of his country participating in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine after the conclusion of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, the visiting prime minister stated, "We do not want to be here during a war, but in the Coalition of the Willing, Portugal participates and will participate in peacekeeping operations."
He emphasized, however, that no such mission is currently being planned.
Portugal is part of the Coalition of the Willing -- a group of about 30 countries supporting Ukraine.
Montenegro added that Portugal is already supporting Ukraine in developing underwater drones.
Zelensky said that Ukraine and Portugal had signed a partnership agreement for the production of underwater drones. Montenegro arrived in Kyiv earlier on Saturday.
Trilateral meeting
Also on Saturday, Zelensky said he generally supports the idea of a trilateral meeting involving the national security advisors of Ukraine, the United States and Russia, expressing cautious optimism about the prospect of such a meeting.
Zelensky said the proposal was put forward by the United States and conveyed to him by Ukraine's chief peace negotiator, Rustem Umerov, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Zelensky said that he was not sure that the meeting would bring something new, but noted that the result of previous talks in Türkiye was the return of captured soldiers and civilians.
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"I am very glad that we had exchanges. Our people, our military, primarily prisoners, returned home. And civilians. And therefore we need to take such steps," he said.
Zelensky added that "if the results are exchanges or some other agreements, I cannot be against it, then we support the proposal of the United States of America. Let's see how it goes."
He noted, however, that the most difficult issues in the ongoing peace process remain unresolved, including territorial issues, control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and funding for Ukraine's reconstruction.
