France denies Russian claims that defense ministers discussed Ukraine conflict

(Patria) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu discussed the potential for talks on the Ukraine conflict during a rare phone call on Wednesday, the Moscow defense ministry said, with Paris denying it, AFP reported.

The unexpected call, which Moscow said was initiated by Paris, represents a rare instance of high-level contact between the two countries, whose ties have been severely strained by the conflict.

"A readiness for dialogue on Ukraine was noted. Starting points could be based on the Istanbul peace initiative," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement regarding the call. The ministry did not specify what this meant.

A source close to Lecornu quickly denied that such a conversation had taken place.

"France has not accepted or proposed anything similar" regarding the conflict, the source told AFP.

NATO member Turkey said last month it was ready to host a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine, but Kyiv has rejected the idea of negotiating directly with Moscow.

Shoigu took issue with Paris signaling that Western soldiers could be sent to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron refused to rule out the possibility in February.

"Regarding the statements from the Elysee Palace about sending a French contingent to Ukraine, Sergei Shoigu stressed that if they are implemented in practice, it would create problems for France itself," the Russian defense ministry said.