Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that France sought to initiate dialogue with Moscow regarding the Ukraine crisis without involving Kyiv. He mentioned past confidential appeals from French counterparts to engage in discussions, contradicting the West’s stance that any decisions about Ukraine must include its government. Lavrov expressed Russia’s willingness to listen but faced criticism from a French diplomatic source, which highlighted that any peace process must be led by Ukraine and emphasized that a sustainable peace could not occur without Ukrainian involvement.