As reported by the White House, U.S. and French leaders also raised key regional and bilateral issues during the telephone conversation.
US and French Presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuelle Macron on Sunday during a telephone conversation discussed the convening of a conference of leaders of the “five” permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, UK, China, USA and France) and the need to reform the World Health Organization (WHO). This was stated in a statement issued by Deputy White House spokesman Judd Dir.
“President Trump and President Macron discussed positive developments in the fight against the pandemic and the prospects for opening up global economies [lifting health restrictions]. The leaders expressed hope for the early convening of the [conference] Five and considered the UN response to the pandemic,” the text said. – The presidents agreed on the need to reform the WHO. Donald Trump and Emmanuelle Macron also addressed key regional and bilateral issues.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told on 22 April that the leaders of the UNSC permanent members will discuss steps to respond to the consequences of coronavirus infection during a videoconference. Answering a question about when such contact may take place, the high-ranking diplomat noted that the date has not been agreed yet. However, he pointed out that the conference does not replace the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a full-scale summit. Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that a joint document for the leaders’ negotiations is being agreed upon.
Trump said on April 14 that Washington had suspended its contributions to the WHO. According to him, the money will not be transferred “until an assessment of the organization’s role in hiding data on the spread of coronavirus.