The US ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, has reportedly assured French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot he will not interfere in the country’s affairs, after he failed to explain claims France had seen a “rise” in violence.

The pair spoke by phone on Tuesday after Barrot blocked Kushner, father of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, from access to ministers in response to the US envoy’s apparent snubbing of a summons on Monday evening over his comments.

On Monday, Kushner had cited a prior engagement and sent a deputy instead of answering the summon himself.

The pair have reportedly agreed to meet face-to-face in the coming days. Neither has spoken publicly about Tuesday’s talks.

“[Barrot] reiterated the reasons that had led to the summons: France cannot accept any form of interference or manipulation of its national public debate by the authorities of a third country,” a member of the foreign minister’s team told French media about Tuesday’s call.

“The ambassador took note and expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate.”