European leaders must be ready to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin if US-mediated negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian crisis fail, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.

If peace talks led by the United States fail, in the coming weeks they will have to find ways for Europeans to resume full-fledged dialogue with Russia, under conditions of complete transparency for Ukraine, Macron told reporters after the EU summit.

He added that it is necessary to find the right framework for a proper conversation with Russia.

Commenting on Washington’s efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, the French president said that the situation is not ideal.

It would be useful to speak again with Vladimir Putin in the near future, Macron concluded.