Macron, Putin optimistic on Ukraine, clash on Syria

Speaking at a press conference at his summer residence in southern France, Macron said he wanted to attend a summit with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and Germany — the so-called Normandy format — soon to try and resolve the conflict in which more than 13,000 people have died.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their meeting at the fort of Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France. (AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, both expressed hope on Monday that the election of Volodymyr Zelenskiy as Ukrainian leader had boosted chances of ending a long-running conflict in eastern Ukraine — a conflict Macron described as an “irritant” in EU-Russia relations.