French President Emmanuel Macron may step into a leading role in negotiating with Russia on behalf of European countries supporting Ukraine, according to a report by The Telegraph, citing a source within the Élysée Palace. Macron appears more open to diplomatic engagement with Moscow compared to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reportedly has “no plans” to initiate talks.
The unnamed French official indicated that while Macron is willing to act as a mediator "when the time is right," that moment has yet to arrive. Back in March, Macron publicly stated his readiness to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin—but only with the backing of Kyiv and its European allies.
The concept of European-led negotiations gained traction earlier this year, when both Macron and Starmer discussed forming a “coalition of the willing.” This initiative would involve European countries providing military and logistical support to Ukraine—such as troops or aircraft—if a peace deal with Russia were reached.
However, European leaders are reportedly looking for someone to take the lead in peace talks independently of any future initiatives from former U.S. President Donald Trump, should he return to the White House. Finland's President Alexander Stubb recently voiced support for either London or Paris taking the reins in such diplomatic efforts.
Despite that, the Kremlin has denied receiving any communication from European leaders regarding peace talks. “There have been no such signals so far,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.
Tensions remain high, with Russia accusing both the UK and France of supporting recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Moscow has also warned against the deployment of NATO-aligned European troops near the conflict zone, suggesting such a move could escalate into direct confrontation with NATO itself.
While Washington and Moscow have reportedly held discreet talks in Saudi Arabia—resulting in a limited ceasefire—progress remains fragile. Russia has accused Ukraine of violating the truce and claimed British military advisers were involved in recent strikes.
As the situation continues to evolve, France and the UK remain Ukraine's most vocal European supporters. Meanwhile, Europe’s search for a unified diplomatic front comes amid shifting strategies from Washington, especially with U.S.-Russia relations being cautiously re-explored under Trump’s administration.