Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine 69 days following the invasion of the Kremlin troops. The Russian head of state reiterated the demand for Western countries to stop supplying weapons to kyiv. Meanwhile, the French president called for evacuations to be allowed in Mariupol and the Azovstal steelworks.
In a new dialogue on the war, the leaders exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. Putin also informed Macron regarding the progress of the so-called special military operation for the defense of the Donbass republics, as well as the liberation of Mariupol and the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal plant as agreed with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, during his visit to Moscow on April 26. Putin also congratulated the French president who this Saturday assumes his second term as head of state of France.
The Russian president spoke regarding the main focus of the negotiations with the Ukrainian side. “In particular, he stressed that despite kyiv’s inconsistency and unpreparedness for serious work, Russia remains open to dialogue,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin also claimed to Macron that the countries of the European Union (EU) do not account for the war crimes committed by the kyiv forces. “It was emphasized that EU member states ignore war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces and the massive shelling of towns and cities in Donbass, killing peaceful civilians,” according to the statement carried by Russia’s TASS news agency. “The West might help put an end to these crimes by putting pressure on the authorities in kyiv and ending arms supplies to Ukraine.” the Kremlin remarked.
Macron expressed concern regarding problems in ensuring global food security. Meanwhile, the Russian government pointed out that this responds to Western sanctions and stressed the importance of logistics and transport infrastructure working without any obstacles.
Macron also asked Putin to help continue the process of evacuating the steel plant in Mariupol. “He expressed deep concern regarding the situation in Mariupol and Donbass, and called on Russia to allow evacuations from the Azovstal plant to continue. initiated in recent days, in coordination with humanitarian organizations,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement.
He also expressed his willingness to work to create the conditions to reach “a negotiated solution that guarantees peace and full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Macron reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia on February 24.
On the other hand, the French head of state stressed that taking into account the consequences of the war for world food security, it is willing to work with competent international organizations to lift the Russian blockade on Ukrainian food exports across the Black Sea.
Attacks and evacuations
While in Ukrainian territory, Russia advances on localities in the Donbass. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian army intends to “take full control of the towns of Popasna and Rubijne, in Luganskand move towards Lyman y Sloviansk“, two cities of Donetsk.
On the other hand, the deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov battalion, Sviatoslay Palamarassured that Russia had launched a powerful attack” once morest the Azovstal steelworks. The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Ukrainian fighters of using the ceasefire -ordered for the evacuation-, to “take firing positions on the territory and in the factory buildings”. In this sense, he affirmed that the Moscow army launched an attack with artillery and planes to destroy these “firing positions”.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Osnat LubraniHe reported that 127 civilians who were evacuated from the port city (of which 101 were evacuated from the steelworks) and another nearby locality controlled by Moscow arrived in the city of Zaporiyia. still in the hands of the Ukrainian Army.