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Putin phone call public: Kremlin chief choked off Macron - "I want to play ice hockey now"

2022-06-28T07:56:32.106Z


Putin phone call public: Kremlin chief choked off Macron - "I want to play ice hockey now" Created: 2022-06-28Updated: 2022-06-28 09:51 By: Andreas Schmid Russian President Vladimir Putin often talks to Emmanuel Macron on the phone. Now the content of a conversation has become public. (Iconic image) © Kremlin Pool/Imago Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron often talk on the phone. During a conve


Putin phone call public: Kremlin chief choked off Macron - "I want to play ice hockey now"

Created: 2022-06-28Updated: 2022-06-28 09:51

By: Andreas Schmid

Russian President Vladimir Putin often talks to Emmanuel Macron on the phone.

Now the content of a conversation has become public.

(Iconic image) © Kremlin Pool/Imago

Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron often talk on the phone.

During a conversation, a journalist was allowed to play mouse.

He published the minutes of the conversation.

Paris - Rare insights into the character of Vladimir Putin.

Shortly before the start of the Ukraine war, the Russian President called his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

What Putin apparently did not know: the French journalist Guy Lagache recorded the entire conversation with his video camera, with Macron's permission.

The contents of the conversation will be shown in a documentary on French television on June 30th.

The French media published the minutes of the conversation in advance.

Conversation between Putin and Macron: "You can see for yourself what is happening"

On February 20, four days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin called Macron.

"Vladimir, first of all, one thing," says Macron at the beginning of the conversation.

Putin interrupts and tries to take over the conversation: "Listen, Emmanuel." Macron, in turn, demands of his counterpart to "describe the Russian intentions very directly".

"What can I say?

You can see for yourself what is happening,” Putin countered, accusing Ukraine of violating treaties such as the Minsk Accords: a peace deal signed after the annexation of Crimea aimed at improving the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"You and Chancellor Scholz, you told me that President Zelenskyj is ready for a gesture of good will (...) But our dear colleague Zelenskyj does nothing.

He's lying.” According to the transcript of the conversation, Macron disagrees, but Putin doesn't seem to go into detail.

Both use the first name in the conversation.

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Macron is bursting at the seams: "I don't know where your lawyer studied"

Instead, Putin is defending the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"I don't understand your problem with the Separatists.

At least they did what we told them and started a constructive dialogue with the Ukrainian side.” Macron then scolds: “I don't know where your lawyer studied.

(...) I don't know which lawyer would go so far as to claim that legal texts in a sovereign country are drafted by separatists and not by a democratically elected government.”

Putin speaks again of the political proposals of the separatists.

It is probably about the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Macron replies: "We are not interested in the separatists' proposals."

Putin then responds to Macron's statements.

"It's not about a democratically elected government," says the Kremlin chief, referring to Ukraine and then attacking President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: "It came to power through a coup d'état, there were people who were burned alive, it was a bloodbath and Zelenskyj is one of those responsible.”

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Putin-Macron phone call: "I want to play ice hockey now"

At this point in the conversation, the tone seems rougher.

Ultimately, however, Macron is also trying to play a mediating role.

The point is to "calm everyone down" and that Putin should "not allow himself to be carried away by provocations in the coming hours and days".

Macron then proposes a joint meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Macron does not name a date, instead he speaks of the “coming days”.

Putin does not seem averse.

"It is a proposal that deserves to be considered".

Macron digs deeper and suggests that the presidential advisers take care of the formalities.

Putin dodges.

"Not to hide anything from you, I want to play hockey now, I'll talk to you from my gym where I start training.

I'll call my advisor first."

Putin regularly plays ice hockey.

With ice skates, the Kremlin boss looks quite stable.

In state media, however, the qualities of the 69-year-old are also completely over-staged.

At a friendly ice hockey game in Sochi 2019, the President scored eight goals.

There are highlights of the game on YouTube, in which it is not particularly difficult for Putin to score.

Commentator duo, teammates and stadium visitors still celebrate.

Incidentally, a meeting with Biden did not take place.

Four days after the conversation, the Ukraine war began.

(as)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-06-28

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