An official at the French presidency told journalists in a briefing that French President Emmanuel Macron’s phone conversation to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was legitimate because of the major safety risk impacting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which is subject to military action.

Macron, who last spoke with Putin in May, had previously been chastised for continuing diplomatic talks with Putin despite his decision to invade Ukraine and Russian army operations that international observers deemed to be war crimes.

A French presidency official told journalists in a briefing that French President Emmanuel Macron’s phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was legal because of the enormous safety risk affecting Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which is under military attack.

Macron was previously condemned for continuing diplomatic contacts with Putin despite his decision to invade Ukraine and Russian army activities that international observers regarded to be war crimes.