The French press agency quoted the Elysée today as saying that "Macron and Putin spoke for an hour and 40 minutes about the Ukrainian crisis."

The Elysée noted that "Macron and Putin expressed their desire to continue the dialogue on how to proceed with the implementation of the Minsk Agreements on the Donbass region as well as security and stability conditions in Europe."

The Elysée announced that Macron would talk to Putin about the crisis on the Russian - Ukrainian border, which Westerners wanted to resolve "through diplomatic means and dialogue."

The French presidency said that Western leaders, including United States President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, had "confirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Earlier today, the press office of the German government announced that the leaders of Germany, the United States, France and Canada had discussed the situation around Ukraine.