Three-way phone call with Putin
Putin “informs” Scholz and Macron about “true situation”
03/12/2022, 4:43 p.m
Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron phoned Kremlin chief Putin for 75 minutes. They demand an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war. According to the Kremlin, Putin has informed the two heads of state about the “true situation” in the war zone.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French head of state Emmanuel Macron have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. In addition, in a 75-minute phone call, Scholz and Macron pushed for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
Putin, in turn, has accused the Ukrainian army of “blatant violations” of international humanitarian law. The Kremlin said he informed Scholz and Macron about “the real situation” in Ukraine during the phone call. Putin accused the Ukrainian army of “extrajudicial executions of dissidents,” “taking hostages and using civilians as shields.”
Putin accused Ukrainian forces of stockpiling heavy weapons near hospitals, schools and kindergartens. “At the same time, nationalist battalions are disrupting rescue operations and intimidating civilians during evacuation attempts,” the Kremlin said. Scholz and Macron called on Putin to influence the government in Kyiv to stop “these criminal activities”. The Kremlin chief also reported on the status of talks between the negotiating teams in Moscow and Kiev, the statement said.
In the morning, the Chancellor had already spoken to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and found out about his assessment of the current situation. The two had agreed to remain in close contact, according to the federal government’s statement.