French President Emmanuel Macron said he conveyed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request for talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a February 24 telephone conversation.
“I had a sincere, direct and quick conversation with President Putin at the request of President Zelensky, first of all to ask him to stop the fighting as soon as possible, but especially to offer him negotiations, to ask him to negotiate with President Zelensky,” Macron told the press. -conferences (quote from Interfax).
According to him, Zelensky failed to contact Putin. The French President noted that it is necessary to maintain channels for contacts with Russia in order to achieve a truce in Ukraine.
“And I think that it is my responsibility, firstly, to take such initiatives when Ukraine asks for them. And also, condemning (Russia – IF), applying sanctions (…), leaving this path open (for contacts – IF) so that, when conditions allow, we could achieve a cessation of hostilities, ”added Macron. He noted that now Russia has deliberately chosen a different path.
The Kremlin website says that the conversation between Putin and Macron on Thursday was initiated by the French side. During the talks, “a serious and frank exchange of views took place on the situation around Ukraine.” Putin explained the reasons and circumstances of the decision to conduct a special operation in the Donbass. Putin and Macron agreed to stay in touch.
On February 24, Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian military successfully completed all the tasks set for the day and disabled 83 ground facilities of Ukraine’s military infrastructure. Units of the troops of the DPR and LPR, with fire support from the Russian Armed Forces, advanced 6-8 km inland. The North Crimean Canal was also unblocked and water supply to the peninsula was restored. After the start of the operation, the United States, Great Britain and other countries imposed sanctions on Russia.
Many countries condemned Russia’s decision. On the evening of February 24, the United States, Canada and Great Britain announced sanctions against Russia.