During a phone interview with Vladimir Putin on Saturday, May 28th, Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, and Emmanuel Macron, French President, called this Saturday, May 28th, for “serious direct negotiation” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a statement by the German chancellery, the leaders met for an hour with the Russian President. They “insisted on an urgent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops” during the meeting. Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron “called upon the Russian President to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine’s President and find a diplomatic solution for the conflict.” According to the Chancellery this meeting was called for by Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, and was “devoted to continuing the Russian war against Ukraine” and to efforts to end it.
The German Chancellor, the French President and the French President “called upon the Russian President to improve the humanitarian situation for the civilian population”.
Both Western leaders “took positive notice of the Russian President’s commitment to treat captured combatants in accordance with international human rights, in particular the Geneva Conventions and to allow unimpeded access at the International Committee of the Red Cross.” .
The discussion also covered “The global food situation, which has become extremely tense because of the Russian war on aggression,” The chancellery says that President Putin has stated that he would allow exports of grain from Ukraine, especially by sea.
Russian President has “committed Russia will not use the opening of the mine Belt set up to protect Ukrainian ports to allow for the export of grain by ships to carry out offensive activities”, assures the German chancellery. He also stated that all three leaders had agreed on the “central” role that the United Nations must have to ensure exports.
