Russian and French presidents agree to strengthen diplomatic efforts to defuse crisisFly into the homes of ordinary people
On the 20th local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation to exchange views on the situation in Ukraine and surrounding areas as well as Russia’s security issues.
Based on the news released on the official website of the Russian President and the Elysee Palace, the French presidential palace, the telephone conversation lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Both sides expressed serious concerns about the sharp deterioration of the situation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. .
Putin: Ukrainian military provocation has escalated the situation in eastern Ukraine
The Russian President’s official website said that Putin pointed out during the call that the provocation of the Ukrainian security forces was the cause of the escalation of the situation in the Donbas region. According to the Elysee Palace, the French presidential palace, Macron believes that the escalation of the situation is caused by the civil armed forces in eastern Ukraine.
Putin: NATO to send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine fanned the flames
Putin also emphasized that NATO countries are supplying Ukraine with modern weapons and ammunition, pushing Ukraine “to embark on the path of solving the so-called ‘Donbas problem’ by military means.” Civilians in eastern Ukraine are suffering and had to be evacuated to Russia to avoid mounting shelling.
Both sides agree that diplomatic channels should be pursued through the “Normandy model”
Putin said the Ukrainian government was “just doing a negotiation look” and in fact stubbornly refused to implement the new Minsk agreement and the “Normandy model” of agreements.
Given the urgency of the situation, the two presidents agreed that a diplomatic solution should be intensified through the “Normandy model” countries, i.e. the foreign ministries and political advisers of Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, to restore the ceasefire and ensure that progress in conflict.
Tripartite Contact Group on Ukraine to meet
The French presidential palace Elysee Palace also said that Macron and Putin also agreed to the “Tripartite Contact Group on Ukraine”, that is, Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE will meet on the 21st local time.
Putin: US and NATO must take Russian security requirements seriously
In addition, Putin also reiterated in the call that the United States and NATO need to take Russia’s security requirements seriously and make specific and substantive responses.
