French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s idea to appoint Russian President Vladimir Putin as a mediator in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, stating that Moscow lacks the credibility necessary for such a role.
Speaking during a visit to Greenland—a politically symbolic stop ahead of the upcoming G7 summit—Macron made clear his opposition to any mediation involving Russia, citing its ongoing military offensive in Ukraine and its disregard for the United Nations Charter.
“I do not believe that Russia, which is now engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the UN Charter for several years now, can be a mediator,” he said during a joint press conference with Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
On the same day, Donald Trump suggested in interviews that Putin, despite his nation’s invasion of Ukraine, could serve as a broker for peace talks between Israel and Iran.
Macron’s statement marks a notable divergence from Trump’s global strategy, signaling a European reluctance to entrust diplomatic oversight to Russia amid deepening geopolitical tensions.
According to Macron, France has not participated in any Israeli strikes against Iran—emphasizing Paris’s commitment to diplomatic solutions and cooperation among Western allies. His visit to Greenland, where he reaffirmed European solidarity and warned against U.S. interference, was positioned as a prelude to urgent discussions at the Group of Seven summit in Canada.
This debate unfolds against the backdrop of a broader international effort to de-escalate tensions, following days of mutual strikes. While Trump expressed optimism that Israel and Iran “should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Macron, backed by other G7 leaders and EU officials, reiterated that credible mediation must rest on trust—and Russia’s actions disqualify it from that role.
