In a bid to avert a conflict in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Moscow. During their meeting, Macron told Putin he is seeking a “useful” response “that, of course, allows us to avoid war and to build bricks of trust, stability, [and] visibility.” Putin, meanwhile, said Russia and France shared “a common concern about what is happening in the security sphere in Europe.” “I see how much efforts the current leadership of France and the president personally is applying in order to solve the crisis related to providing equal security in Europe for a serious historical perspective,” Putin said. The talks come as Russia has amassed thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine and also reportedly is carrying out war drills in Belarus in what Russian officials say is a routine exercise. Over the past weekend, White House national security adviser Jake …