The Russian president advised his German counterpart that Ukraine is committing struggle crimes
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by telephone on Tuesday, with Scholz calling on Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine and Putin highlighting Ukraine’s “blatant violations of worldwide humanitarian regulation.”
Through the 90-minute dialog, Scholz urged Putin to “come to a diplomatic answer as rapidly as potential, based mostly on a ceasefire, a whole withdrawal of Russian forces and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Ukraine,” in accordance with a press release from spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
The German chancellor additionally referred to as on Putin to “keep away from any escalation” across the Zaporozhye Nuclear Energy Plant, and to implement a UN-recommended ‘secure zone’ across the facility. Putin countered that the plant is subjected to “fixed missile assaults from Ukraine, which creates actual dangers of a large-scale disaster,” in accordance with a readout of the decision from the Kremlin.
The Russian president additionally accused Kiev of “blatant violations of worldwide humanitarian regulation,” pointing to the shelling of majority Russian-speaking cities in Donbass.
Putin additionally mentioned Russia will provide power to Europe, ought to the EU raise sanctions stopping provide alongside the Nord Stream 1 fuel pipeline. Germany’s refusal to certify the Nord Stream 2 pipeline whereas blaming Russia for its power woes “appears very cynical,” he mentioned.
Together with French President Emmanuel Macron, Scholz has been one of many few European leaders to stay in touch with Putin following the launch of Russia’s navy offensive in Ukraine in February. The pair held a joint dialog with the Russian president again in Might, with the dialog fiercely condemned by extra hardline anti-Russian officers from the Baltic states.
Beneath Scholz, Germany has not budged on its assist for EU sanctions on Russia, and continues to arm Kiev’s navy, though the chancellor has been criticized by some domestically for not going far sufficient in its assist. German Protection Minister Christine Lambrecht mentioned final week Berlin had “reached the restrict” of what it might present militarily.
Russia’s ambassador to Berlin accused Germany on Monday of getting “crossed the rubicon” by offering weapons to Ukraine that are used to kill Russians.
Regardless of bitter relations between Germany and Russia, Scholz and Putin agreed to remain in touch, either side mentioned after Tuesday’s name.
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