[Economics] France, Germany urge Putin to hold direct negotiations with Zelensky

[FazzNoth]

The leaders of France and Germany have urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin to hold "direct and serious negotiations" with Ukraine’s president, the German chancellor’s office said.

Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz spoke to Putin by phone for 80 minutes.

The pair "insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops", the chancellor’s office said.

Russia’s leader said Moscow was open to resuming dialogue with Kyiv, according to the Kremlin.

It did not mention the possibility of direct talks between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president earlier said he was not “eager” for talks, but added they would likely be necessary to end the conflict.

France and Germany also urged Putin to release 2,500 Ukrainian fighters taken as prisoners of war at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

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