French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he believed there was a chance for peace in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

"There is the prospect for peace, it will come around at some moment," said Macron at a conference in Rome aimed at seeking ways to promote world peace.

"And at a particular moment, given how things are evolving, and when the Ukrainian people and its leaders will have decided on the terms of this, a peace deal can be built up with the other side," added Macron.

France has repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping Western diplomatic channels to Russia open since the start of the war on February 24.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the Ukraine situation in separate phone conversations on Sunday with France's Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu as well as with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the defense ministers of UK and Turkey.