Paris, 20 February 2022 (dpa/MIA) — French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President agreed to intensify "the search for solutions in diplomatic channels through the foreign ministries and political advisers" during their phone call, according to a Kremlin statement. They agreed that talks would take place in the Normandy format, meaning with representatives of Russia and Ukraine under Franco-German moderation. The two leaders said the talks would aim to ensure the ceasefire is held and "progress would be made in settling the conflict." The call lasted around one hour and 45 minutes. Macron and Putin both expressed serious concern about the "drastic deterioration of the situation" along the front between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Moscow separatists, according to the Kremlin statement.