EU must have 'frank, exacting' dialogue with Russia, Macron says

French president spoke alongside Ursula von der Leyen, who pledged an 'architecture of European security' Emmanuel Macron has said the EU needs a "frank, exacting" dialogue with Russia to defuse tensions, as he called for new security arrangements on the continent. The French president was rebuffed by other EU states in June when he and the then German chancellor, Angela Merkel, made a surprise proposal for a summit with Vladimir Putin.