Franco–German Call for Russia Summit Meets EU Resistance

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Council President Charles Michel address the media as they arrive on the first day of the European Union summit at the European Council Building in Brussels, on June 24, 2021. John Thys/Pool via Reuters

BRUSSELS—France and Germany called on June 24 for a European Union summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin but met firm resistance from Poland and Baltic countries that distrust the Kremlin.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the first EU summit with Putin since January 2014 would be a chance for dialogue and won support from Austria’s chancellor as EU leaders arrived for their regular summer meeting in Brussels to discuss a new strategy to improve ties with Moscow.