Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to questions from the Moscow, Kremlin, Putin TV programme, Moscow, July 6, 2025

Question: This is a question about President of France Emmanuel Macron. After everything he has said and the decisions he has made, many are wondering: why do we still take his calls when he phones Moscow?

Sergey Lavrov: I think the answer is quite clear. It lies in the principles that guide President Vladimir Putin – a genuinely courteous person and a farsighted statesman who never rejects dialogue for the sake of short-term political trends or ideological impulses. That’s all there is to it.

Question: The French side claims that President Macron called "to consult on Iran." Does this mean France now recognises that Russia is a country it can – and should – consult with?

Sergey Lavrov: The Kremlin has provided a detailed account of the phone conversation. As for the rest, that falls within the realm of diplomatic tradition.