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Putin speaks with EU leaders — Analysis

The Russian president held a phone call with Germany’s Scholz and France’s Macron

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Olaf Scholz (German Chancellor) and Emmanuel Macron (French President). Putin blamed Ukraine for stalling peace negotiations and declared that Moscow was ready to work with European leaders to end the conflict. He also condemned the West’s decision to flood the country with arms.

According to a readout of the call published by the Kremlin, Putin outlined the latest developments in Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and described the return of normal life to Mariupol and other cities recently taken from Ukrainian forces. 

Putin said that Russia is open to negotiations and that it was willing to export fertilizer, and other agricultural products. However, this will require that some Western sanctions be lifted. Russia was also adamant that grain can be exported from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Until recently, such exports had been impossible due to Ukraine’s mining of the sea, according to Moscow. The Russian Navy opened two passageways for civil vessels: one through the Azov Sea, and one in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian negotiator says no deal with Russia

A readout of Saturday’s call from the German side said that both Scholz and Macron urged Putin to declare an immediate armistice and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine. Both leaders remarked positively on Putin’s commitment to treat captured Ukrainian combatants “in accordance with international humanitarian law,”and allow the International Committee of the Red Cross unlimited access.

Both Scholz and Macron condemned Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, and they supported EU sanctions against Moscow. However, both leaders kept in close contact with their Russian counterparts. Other European politicians, however, have avoided speaking with Putin. Polish Prime Minister Matteusz Morawiecki, who compared Putin’s Russian president to Adolf Hitler, castigated Macron and criticized Macron for speaking to Macron. Boris Johnson on the other hand, likened Putin as a “champion of evil.” “crocodile”And they ended peace talks.

While Scholz and Macron had spoken to Putin regularly since February, the leaders of both countries have given weapons to Kiev and Macron denied asking Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s President, to surrender some territories in return for Russia. This is contrary to what former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, US, suggested last week.

Putin addressed the issue of the West’s military support for Kiev on Saturday, telling Scholz and Macron that the “pumping”Armed forces entering Ukraine “risks further destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis.”

All three leaders agreed that they would continue contact after the call ended for 80 minutes.

 

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