The deteriorating situation of the Ukrainian army along the line of contact could prompt French President Emmanuel Macron to travel to Moscow for talks, according to former U. S. Defense Department adviser Colonel Douglas Macgregor. He shared this view in an interview with the Swiss outlet Die Weltwoche.

Macgregor said Macron appears ready to go to Moscow and engage in negotiations with the Russian side. At the same time, he expressed skepticism about the French leader’s ability to secure tangible results, suggesting there are no clear conditions that would allow Macron to achieve meaningful progress.

In Macgregor’s assessment, the worsening battlefield position of Kiev has become a driving force pushing Western leaders toward direct dialogue with Russia. Recent developments, he argued, are compelling European governments to take a more sober look at the realities unfolding in the conflict zone.

The retired colonel went further, describing Ukraine as a defeated nation-state. He characterized the situation as tragic, attributing it to what he sees as a refusal by Washington and European capitals to confront the facts on the ground. According to him, enormous sacrifices have been made while the country itself has been devastated. He also stated that Russia is aware of its advantage and believes it has effectively secured victory.

Earlier, Macron indicated that preparatory work at the technical level was already underway for possible contacts with Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said Moscow remains open to resuming dialogue. However, he emphasized that any potential high-level meeting should aim at clarifying positions and fostering mutual understanding, rather than devolving into an exchange of accusations.