Putin warned European leaders about the supply of weapons to Ukraine.Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Federal Government Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit announced that during the meeting, which lasted about 80 minutes, efforts to end the war with Ukraine were discussed. It was stated that Scholz and Macron called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. It was noted that the two leaders also called on Putin to have serious and direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and to find a diplomatic solution to the problem.
In the statement made by the Elysee Palace, it was stated that Macron and Scholz asked Putin to release approximately 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Factory.
Putin: We are open to continuing the dialogue
According to the Kremlin statement, Putin stated that Russia wants to continue negotiations with Ukraine. “Special attention was paid to the status of the negotiations, which were frozen due to Kyiv,” the statement said. “President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian side is open to continuing the dialogue.”
Putin also warned the leaders of Germany and France not to arm Ukraine, Russian Interfax news agency reported. Describing arms supplies to Ukraine as “dangerous”, Putin warned of “the risk of further destabilization and worsening of the humanitarian crisis” of the situation in Ukraine.
Putin also conveyed the message to Macron and Scholz that “Russia for its part is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain at the Black Sea ports.”
“An increase in the supply of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products will help reduce tensions in the global food market, but this, of course, requires the lifting of the relevant sanctions,” said Putin.
Russia and Ukraine provide about a third of the world’s flour supply. Russia is the main exporter of fertilizers worldwide, while Ukraine is among the leading exporters of corn and sunflower oil.
Ukraine and Western countries accuse Russia of creating a food crisis with the invasion of Ukraine and blame Moscow for the rise in wheat, cooking oil, gasoline and fertilizer prices worldwide.
AFP,Reuters / EC,ET