Macron hopes for rewards but faces risks in Moscow trip to see Putin

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) hold joint news conference in Berlin, Germany January 25, 2022. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via REUTERS

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron heads to talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday hoping to ensure Europe gets a say in broader U.S.-Russian negotiations over Ukraine, but risks embarrassment if he returns empty-handed.

France, Russia and Ukraine have had numerous phone conversations over the past 10 days that culminated on Friday with Macron's office confirming that he would travel to Moscow and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Feb. 7 and 8.