French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and to ensure the protection and security of Ukraine’s nuclear sites, said an official from Macron’s office.
The French official confirmed that Macron had held a phone exchange of nearly two hours on Sunday with Putin.
Russian media had earlier reported the latest talks between Putin and Macron. Macron has stayed in regular contact with Putin but, as with other international efforts, has yet to persuade Moscow to call off a campaign now into an 11th day.
It comes after Putin had a conversation with Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan today, which we reported on a little earlier, in which the Turkish leader urged him to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call on Sunday that Russia would only halt its military operation if Ukraine stopped fighting and Moscow’s demands were met, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin said the operation was going according to plan and to schedule, and that he hoped Ukrainian negotiators would take a more constructive approach at talks and take into account the reality on the ground, the Kremlin said in statement.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement, his office said on Sunday.
In a statement after a one-hour phone call, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Putin that Turkey was ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, adding he stated that a ceasefire would ease concerns over the humanitarian situation.
“President Erdogan renewed his call of ‘let’s pave the way for peace together’,” his office said. “Erdogan emphasised the importance of taking urgent steps to achieve a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement.”
The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties, it said.
Photo – Russian President Vladimir Putin anRussian President Vladimir Putin (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (R) meet in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 07 February 2022. Macron is visiting Russia on a mission to ease Russian-Ukrainian tensions. EPA-EFE/KREMLIN POOL / SPUTNIK
