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The leaders of France and Germany have urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin to carry “direct [and] critical negotiations” with Ukraine’s president, the German chancellor’s workplace mentioned.
Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz spoke to Mr Putin by telephone for 80 minutes, studies BBC.
The pair “insisted on a direct ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops”, the chancellor’s workplace mentioned.
Russia’s chief mentioned Moscow was open to resuming dialogue with Kyiv, in response to the Kremlin.
It didn’t point out the opportunity of direct talks between Mr Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president earlier mentioned he was not “keen” for talks, however added they might probably be needed to finish the battle.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations have held a number of rounds of talks remotely and in particular person since Russia invaded on 24 February, however efforts have stalled of late.
France and Germany additionally urged Mr Putin to launch 2,500 Ukrainian fighters taken as prisoners-of-war on the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.
The sprawling manufacturing facility grew to become the final holdout within the southern port metropolis, which endured relentless bombardment from Russian forces and now lies in ruins.
Earlier this month, Moscow officers mentioned the final fighters defending the plant had surrendered, whereas President Zelensky mentioned they’d been given permission to depart.
Russia has beforehand mentioned greater than 900 of the fighters had been moved to a reopened jail colony in Olenivka, a village in Russian-occupied Donetsk. A smaller quantity with critical wounds had been taken to a hospital within the city of Novoazovsk, additionally in Donetsk.
Ukraine hopes they are going to be launched as a part of a prisoner trade – however Russia has not confirmed that. Some Russian lawmakers argue the fighters needs to be tried and even executed.
Elsewhere within the name, the French and German leaders requested Mr Putin to elevate Russia’s blockade of the Ukrainian port of Odesa, to permit for grain exports.
The Kremlin mentioned Mr Putin provided to take a look at choices, to assist tackle the danger of a world meals disaster – however demanded that the West elevate sanctions.
Russia additionally warned France and Germany towards rising weapons provides to Ukraine, saying that would improve instability nonetheless additional.
Ukrainian officers say there was preventing on the streets within the japanese metropolis of Severodonetsk, the easternmost place nonetheless below Ukrainian management.
The governor of the Luhansk area, Serhiy Haidai, mentioned Russia had been firing closely on town, though its forces had suffered vital losses.
On Friday, officers mentioned two-thirds of its perimeter was surrounded by Russian forces.
Mr Haidai mentioned Ukrainian troops may withdraw from Severodonetsk, observing: “It’s potential that so as to not be surrounded, they should go away.”
In feedback to the BBC on Saturday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned the Russian invasion of his nation had destroyed greater than 25,000 km (15,000 miles) of roads, a number of hundred bridges, and 12 airports.
Greater than 100 academic establishments, over 500 medical amenities, and 200 factories have additionally been ruined or broken, he mentioned.
He referred to as for Russia to be compelled to pay for “the destruction it has created”, saying frozen Russian belongings needs to be transferred to Ukraine to fund reconstruction work.
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