War in Ukraine: arms deliveries, grain exports... what Putin, Macron and Scholz said to each other

They had not spoken since March 29.

In early May, the dialogue of the deaf between Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron resumed.

This Saturday, they spoke to three, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During this 80-minute telephone exchange, the Russian president denounced the "dangerous nature" of arms deliveries to Ukraine.

He "emphasized the dangerous nature of continuing to flood Ukraine with Western weapons, warning of the risks of further destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis", indicated the Kremlin in a press release published at the end of this telephone conversation.

The two Western leaders have "insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops", indicates a press release from the German chancellery.

They "called on the Russian president for serious direct negotiations with the Ukrainian president and a diplomatic solution to the conflict".

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: Should Emmanuel Macron stop talking to Vladimir Putin?

For its part, the Elysée stresses that the Franco-German couple has "again insisted to President Vladimir Putin on the fact that any solution to the war must be negotiated between Moscow and kyiv, with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

They renewed their demand for a ceasefire and called on him to accept a direct exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as soon as possible.

Putin promises to "help" the export of Ukrainian grain

They also demanded the release of the 2,500 defenders of Azovstal, taken prisoner of war by the Russian forces, as well as the lifting of the blockade of Odessa, to allow the export of Ukrainian cereals through the Black Sea, and thus avoid a serious global food crisis.

On this point, Vladimir Putin said he was “ready” to help an “unimpeded” export of cereals from Ukraine.

“Russia is ready to help find options for unhindered export of grain, including Ukrainian grain from ports on the Black Sea,” the Kremlin said in a statement released after the conversation. telephone.

Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz "took note of the Russian President's promise to grant ships access to the port for the export of cereals without it being exploited militarily by Russia if it was previously cleared", indicates the Elysee.