Putin blames West for his invasion of Ukraine in call with Macron

Vladimir Putin told Emmanuel Macron on a phone call yesterday that his decision to invade Ukraine was “a direct consequence of the West’s policy,” which he said had “ignored Russia’s security interests” over the course of years.

Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a “comprehensive and long-term character” and be based on “new territorial realities,” the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia’s annexation of swathes of its territory as part of any peace deal. Macron has said Ukraine alone should decide on whether or not to accept territorial concessions.

During Tuesday’s two-hour call, Macron’s office said, “the president emphasised France’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”Macron and Putin aim to continue their discussions on Ukraine and Iran, the French president’s office said.

Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was criticised by some European allies, with Macron also visiting Putin in Russia shortly before the invasion in February 2022. They last spoke on the phone in September of that year.

US has provided Ukraine $66bn in military assistance so far

The halt of some weapons shipments from the US is a blow to Ukraine at a time when Russia has ramped up its attacks, launching its biggest aerial raids of the war so far in recent weeks.

Talks to try and agree a ceasefire between the two sides, efforts championed by US president Donald Trump, have ground to a halt.

To date, the US has provided Ukraine more than $66bn worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

Over the course of the war, the US has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defence systems to Ukraine. But many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems, particularly countries in Eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.

“America’s military has never been more ready and more capable,” spokesperson Sean Parnell said, adding that the major tax cut and spending package moving through Congress “ensures that our weapons and defence systems are modernised to protect against 21st century threats for generations to come”.

Pause in Ukraine weapon shipments ‘puts America’s interests first’

The pause in shipments of weapons to Ukraine reflects a new set of priorities under president Donald Trump and came after Defense Department officials scrutinised current US stockpiles and raised concerns.

The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some weapons previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won’t be sent, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been made public.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned – just ask Iran.”That was a reference to Trump recently ordering US missile strikes against nuclear sites in Iran.

Putin, Macron discuss Ukraine in ‘substantive’ phone call

Russian president Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French president Emmanuel Macron on the Iran-Israel conflict and Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, the first such exchange between the two leaders since September 2022.

In Paris, Mr Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict.

A French diplomatic source said Mr Macron had talked to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky before and after his call with Putin to brief him on the talks. Macron also talked to US president Donald Trump about the exchange.