French president calls for a new approach to security on the continent, emphasizing the importance of coordinated EU talks with Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the need for the European Union to engage in a “frank, exacting” dialogue with Russia in an effort to ease rising tensions. Speaking alongside Ursula von der Leyen at the start of France’s six-month EU presidency, Macron called for new security arrangements within Europe.

Macron’s call for talks with Russia echoes a proposal made in June by him and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which was met with resistance from several EU member states, including Poland and the Baltic countries. Despite this opposition, Macron reiterated that dialogue with Russia is essential, though he stressed that such talks should not be about concessions but about addressing disagreements. He also acknowledged the necessity of ensuring that any discussions with Russia be coordinated across the EU to avoid division.