Publication of a Macron-Putin interview: Moscow criticizes a violation of diplomatic etiquette

The head of Russian diplomacy took offense Wednesday at the publication by the television channel France 2 of an interview between the French and Russian presidents, four days before Moscow launched its assault on Ukraine.

 

Diplomatic etiquette does not provide for unilateral leaks of (such) recordings, noted Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a trip to Vietnam.

 

The tense nine-minute telephone conversation between Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin was broadcast in a documentary by the French channel France 2 that traces the French president's mediation to try to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from flaring up, with Moscow accused of preparing an offensive despite its repeated denials.

 

Mr. Lavrov said that Russia had no reason to be ashamed of the content of the conversation between the two leaders.

 

We always conduct negotiations in such a way that we never have to be ashamed. We always say what we think, we are ready to answer for our words and explain our position, he said.