Ukraine war: Macron, Scholz hold fresh talks with Putin

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have held fresh talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine.

During an 80-minute conversation with Putin, the two European leaders “insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops”, the German chancellor’s office said.

Macron and Scholz also urged Putin to have “serious direct negotiations with the Ukrainian president to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict“.

Food security 

Putin told the leaders of France and Germany that Moscow was “ready” to look for ways to ship grain stuck in Ukrainian ports but demanded that the West lift sanctions.

“Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports,” the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

Russia’s offensive in Ukraine and Western sanctions have disrupted supplies of fertiliser, wheat and other commodities from the two countries, fuelling concerns about the risk of hunger around the world.

Russia and Ukraine produce 30 per cent of the global wheat supply.

Destabilisation

Putin also told President Macron and Chancellor Scholz that continuing arms supplies to Ukraine was “dangerous”, warning “of the risks of further destabilisation of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis”, the Kremlin said.

France24/Zainab Sa’id