French President Emmanuel Macron expects to hold a new phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, French government spokesman, Secretary of State Gabriel Attal, said on Wednesday.

His remarks came following a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Elysee Palace.

"President Putin on Tuesday promised to return to a conversation with President Macron to exchange views [on the situation in Mariupol]. A new conversation between the French and Russian presidents is likely to take place this week," Attal said.

The previous phone conversation between the two leaders, during which the situation in Mariupol, in particular, was discussed, took place on Tuesday evening.