Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron have spoken in a phone call for the first time in three years.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it was France that asked for French President Emmanuel Macron to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a pause of nearly three years and that the two leaders had a "very substantive" discussion.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine "as soon as possible" as the two held their first known phone talks in over 2.5 years, the Elysee said.