During a press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took an unexpected phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, illustrating a shift in geopolitical diplomacy practices. Zelensky asked Macron if he could return the call in 15 to 20 minutes, then noted that their conversations occur daily.
An aide to Macron described this mode of communication as “a new diplomacy” that is “more direct and spontaneous,” enabling more frequent and swift interactions among national leaders. Macron reportedly maintains near-daily contact with both Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This rise in direct phone exchanges has sidelined traditional diplomatic roles, making diplomats less central to communications between world leaders. The trend of increased mobile communication has become more pronounced since Trump resumed his U.S. presidency, which is marked by an unconventional leadership style. In the past, phone calls between heads of state were scheduled and conducted with aides present, but now they happen with less formality. Macron has noted occasions when Trump contacted him directly without notice, sometimes pulling him out of meetings.
French officials consider these spontaneous communications necessary to influence Trump, especially as Ukraine and its European partners seek to navigate the U.S. president’s unpredictable foreign policy and softened stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While direct communication practices aren’t entirely new, their adoption varies among leaders. Trump is known for favoring direct contact, whereas his predecessor Joe Biden adhered to more traditional bureaucratic channels. Michel Duclos, a former French ambassador, highlighted that French foreign policy is increasingly centralized in the presidency due to this shift. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelensky engaged in direct mobile phone diplomacy with Polish President Andrzej Duda, even for logistical and bureaucratic discussions.
This approach aims to streamline and expedite processes, though there is a risk of aides being left uninformed if not promptly briefed afterwards. Despite the importance of mobile communications, traditional diplomatic channels remain in use. For instance, Trump provided Zelensky with his mobile number, but the Ukrainian president has not utilized it. Trump’s recent calls with Putin adhered to conventional channels, unlike other unrecorded conversations he has reportedly had with the Russian leader.
Duclos labeled these unrecorded talks as “dangerous,” citing Putin’s skill in manipulation. Political analyst Ian Bremmer remarked that such direct contact could be advantageous in a trusting and stable relationship between two leaders, which he believes does not apply to Trump’s interactions. Concerns about confidentiality persist, as encryption tools like Signal are used by leaders, yet there have been security breaches, such as an American journalist unintentionally gaining access to discussions about military plans within Trump’s administration.
