Stressed conversation published between Macro and Putin four days before the start of the invasion

The French president reacted loudly to his Russian counterpart's proposals that he should negotiate with Russian separatists, explaining at one point: “I don't know where your lawyers have learned this law!”

The tense conversation ended with Putin declaring he was in the gym before rejecting a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Details of the February 20th conversation were revealed by broadcaster France 2 in a documentary about how the French president managed the crisis. The documentary is entitled A president, Europe and war.

At the beginning of the discussion, Macro tells Putin: “I don't know where the laws taught your lawyers! I'm looking at the documents and trying to apply them!

“I don't know which lawyer will be in a position to tell you that in a sovereign country, law texts are proposed by separatist groups, and not by democratic elected authorities”.

An angry Putin shouts: “This is not a democratically elected Government. They came to power with a handful of state, there were people burned alive, there was a bleeding, and Zelensky is responsible for those”.

When the Kremlin leader again suggested that Macro negotiate with separatists, the French leader reacts: “We do not worry about separatist proposals!”

The following day, Putin declared that Russia recognised the People's Republic of Donetsk and the People's Republic of Luhansk and began full invasion on the morning of February 24th.

During the conversation, Putin describes the 2014 revolution that brought the pro-Western leaders to power in Ukraine through a coup and accused Zelensky of refusing to participate in dialogue with pro-Russian separatists.

The conversation starts with Macros asking for clarity against Putin's “goals” and ask what useful “> ” can avoid a full fight.

The powerful Russian leader then casts grave charges against Zelensky, accusing him of “lying against the Minsk accords, a signed reconciliation in 2014 aimed and failed to end the war in Donbas.

Putin claimed the separatists in the region have been trying to negotiate diplomatically with Ukraine and trying to open a constructive “dialogue with Zelensky, who refused to talk with them.

Putin also encourages Macron to negotiate with separatists, but he nervously answers: “there are separatists who make proposals under the laws of Ukraine”.

Putin responds: “of course, we have a completely different reading of the” situation.

In an effort to calm the tense conversation, Macron proposed a meeting with Beden, which Putin seems to refuse without a reconciliation over date and compatibility.

Macron asked Putin to complete military exercises that have seen thousands of troops line up near the border and perform war games in Belarus.

Putin answers not committed that they could possibly end up tonight. Four days later, these troops had entered Ukraine.

At the end of the call, Macro suggests issuing a press release that Putin and Biden would meet in progress.

But Putin calmly answers: “to be honest with you, I wanted to play hockey on ice because I'm talking from gym starting exercise. I'll call my advisors first.

In other parts of the documentary, Zelensky's phone conversation with a shocked Macron reveals that the Russian invasion is in his early hours. /Periscopi/