French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to prepare for direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin if the latest U.S.-led peace talks fail to produce a lasting resolution in Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Macron emphasized the need for a robust peace backed by security guarantees.

“Either a robust and lasting peace is reached, with the required (security) guarantees,” Macron said, “or we will need in the weeks ahead to find ways for Europeans to re-engage in a fulsome dialogue with Russia, and in complete transparency.”

EU Concerns Over Being Sidelined

Macron and other European leaders have expressed frustration at being excluded from U.S.-led negotiations. While Washington prepares talks with Russian negotiators in Miami this weekend, most EU countries—including all except Hungary and Slovakia—have severed communication with Putin since the invasion of Ukraine.

Macron stressed that Europe cannot afford to lack a direct line to Moscow if the U.S. maintains one. He recalled a two-hour phone call with Putin in July, the first in three years, in which he called for a ceasefire—though the conversation had little apparent effect.

Funding Ukraine Amid Internal Divisions

During the EU summit, leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion ($105.44 billion) loan funded from the bloc’s own budget, after member states failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets. While this move secured financial support for Kyiv, divisions between EU nations highlight the challenges of sustaining the war effort.

Warnings of Growing War Fatigue

Some European leaders have warned that public support for Ukraine is under pressure due to the protracted conflict. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen noted the political strain at home, cautioning that Russia may be counting on “war fatigue with a hybrid war that brings a lot of uncertainty and insecurity into our societies.”