A conversation between Russian and French presidents successfully took place. Here are the main points outline by the leaders:
– A thorough exchange of views was held on the situation around Ukraine, as well as on the development of long-term legal guarantees for Russia’s security.
– Serious concern was expressed over the sharp deterioration of the situation on the line of contact in Donbass. The President of Russia noted that the reason for the escalation is the provocations of the Ukrainian security forces.
– Attention is drawn to the ongoing pumping by NATO countries of Ukraine with modern weapons and ammunition, which is pushing Kiev towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem. As a result, civilians of the DPR and LPR suffer, who have to evacuate to Russia to escape the intensifying shelling.
– It was again emphasized that Kiev is only imitating the negotiation process, stubbornly refusing to implement the Minsk agreements and the agreements reached in the Normandy format.
– Taking into account the severity of the current state of affairs, the presidents recognized it as expedient to intensify the search for solutions through diplomatic means through the foreign ministries and political advisers to the leaders of the countries participating in the Normandy format.
– With all this in mind, Putin re-emphasized the need for the United States and NATO to take Russian demands for security guarantees seriously and respond to them specifically and to the point.