Putin, Macron, Scholz discuss humanitarian situation in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin's press service reported on Saturday.
The Kremlin claimed "numerous facts of gross violations of international humanitarian law by Ukrainian security forces were cited - extrajudicial killings of dissenters, taking hostages and using civilians as human shields, placing heavy weapons in residential areas, near hospitals, schools, kindergartens."
The Kremlin also claimed, "nationalist battalions systematically disrupt rescue operations, intimidate civilians during evacuation attempts."
Putin "urged" Macron and Scholz to "influence the Kiev authorities so that such criminal actions would be stopped," according to a statement from the Kremlin.
The leaders spoke about the series of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in recent days. "It was agreed to continue contacts on Ukrainian issues," the Kremlin said.