This is yet another call in a marathon day, during which the Ukrainian crisis has become a war, for President Emmanuel Macron.
One can imagine the harshness of the exchange.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart had a "serious and frank" telephone exchange on Thursday about the military operation launched by Moscow in Ukraine, the Kremlin reported.
This is the first known telephone contact between the Kremlin chief and a Western leader since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning.
Read alsoRussian invasion in Ukraine, exchange with Zelensky, with Putin ... Macron's endless day
The two leaders "had a serious and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine," the Kremlin said in a statement issued after the meeting, which was organized, according to the French presidency, " at the initiative of the French party".
Putin would have explained the reasons for this invasion
During his conversation with Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin "gave a detailed explanation of the reasons and circumstances of the decision to carry out a special military operation" in Ukraine, the Kremlin added.
According to a source within the French presidency, the tenant of the Élysée “demanded the immediate cessation” of the Russian offensive in Ukraine “by recalling that Russia was exposed to massive sanctions”.
Several dozen people died in bombardments and clashes.
The Russian operation was widely condemned by the international community and Western countries imposed economic sanctions on Moscow in response.
Read alsoCrisis in Ukraine: behind the scenes of telephone diplomacy
Earlier in the day, in an address to the nation where he presented himself in front of the flags of France, the European Union, and Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron considered that Vladimir Putin had reneged on his word, bearing the most serious attack on stability and peace in our Europe for decades.
“We did everything to avoid war,” he swore.
“She is there,” he then lamented gravely.
"To this act of war, we will respond without weakness," he said.
Emmanuel Macron promises sanctions "at the height of the aggression carried out", on the military and economic level.
We will support Ukraine without hesitation,” he said.