Macron, Putin discussed Ukraine, Iran by phone

Reuters
FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, at his summer retreat of the Bregancon fortress on the Mediterranean coast, near the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the joint Franco-Russian Council on security issues scheduled for Monday in Moscow, the French presidency said in a statement.

They also discussed a recent prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia, agreeing that gave momentum for a summit of the so-called "Normandy" group - France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine - to discuss issues between Kiev and Moscow, the statement said.

They also discussed global frictions over Iran and expressed the wish that all parties seek to reduce them, it said.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)