Putin talks to Macron & Scholz, says Russia is willing to restart talks with Ukraine again

On Saturday, Russian President Vlimir Putin h a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz where he confirmed that Moscow is rey to continue peace talks with Kyiv, which Kremlin says were halted by Ukrainian side. Putin stated that status of negotiations with Ukraine has been halted by Kyiv and that Russia is open to resuming talks. This comes as Macron and Scholz requested Putin to hold "direct serious negotiations" with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Since Russian military offensive started in Ukraine in late February, talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegates have taken place in person and over video links, before it came to a halt. Russia has indicated in last few weeks that it is rey for negotiation talks with Ukraine. However, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that while he does t want to talk to Russian President Vlimir Putin, he recognizes that talks would be required to end conflict.

Putin warns about dangers of flooding Ukraine with Western armaments

Macron and Scholz also pushed Putin to release 2,500 Ukrainian fighters who were locked up within Azovstal steel complex in Mariupol and ultimately surrendered to Russian army. In meanwhile, Putin warned Macron and Scholz over phone about dangers of flooding Ukraine with Western armaments, warning of risks of furr instability and aggravation of humanitarian catastrophe, according to Kremlin.

Russia is rey to assist in identifying alternatives for grain exports

On food shorts, Russian President stated food crisis has been caused as a result of anti-Russian sanctions. He also stated that Russia is rey to assist in identifying alternatives for grain exports, including exports of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports, which were blocked by Russia when war started. 

global food crisis began long before start of military action in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously stated, due to causes such as pandemic and Western countries' miscalculations. At same time, Lavrov stated that current scenario has aggravated problem and that Western sanctions have become one of primary causes of food supply disruptions, which has exacerbated crisis.

Im: AP