While the two talked specifics on Russia allowing "further evacuation of the Azovstal factory" in Mariupol, among the most important items conveyed came from Putin. After last month's Russia-Ukraine delegation talks in Turkey and elsewhere have been at a standstill and dropped out of headlines, Putin stressed that Moscow is still open for dialogue.

Macron and Putin have spoken by phone well over a dozen times since the conflict began in late February. The French leader has said, despite immense criticism for engaging Putin directly, that he hasn't been "satisfied" in terms of results but that he must persist regardless.

"The Russian side is still open to dialogue," Putin told Macron, according to the Kremlin readout.

Among the more interesting and new discussions between the two centered on the impact on the global food supply due to the invasion:

Macron for his part, according to the Kremlin, said global food security was under threat due to the Ukraine conflict.

Putin shot back by saying it's Western sanctions on Russia that are to blame, and underscored "the importance of the unimpeded functioning of the global logistics and transport infrastructure" - but which are being held up due to the West's punitive actions.