French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the Russian President for an immediate truce and withdrawal of troops from Ukraine during a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
According to the service of the German government, the conversation took place on the initiative of France and Germany and lasted 80 minutes. “The Chancellor and the President of France called for an immediate truce and the withdrawal of Russian troops. They called on the President of Russia to enter into serious direct negotiations with the President of Ukraine and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Macron and Scholz also urged Putin to “improve the humanitarian situation of the civilian population” and “commended the commitment of the Russian President to the treatment of captured soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure unrestricted access for the International Committee of the Red Cross.”
In addition, the leaders of Germany and France also spoke with President Putin about the global food situation, “which has become particularly aggravated as a result of Russia’s aggressive war.” “President Putin has given assurances that he wants to allow grain exports from Ukraine, especially by sea. President Putin has vowed that he will not use the demining belt created to protect Ukrainian ports offensively to allow grain exports by sea. The Chancellor, President Macron and President Putin have agreed on the central role of the United Nations in reaching and implementing an agreement on this issue,” the federal government said in a release.
In turn, the Elysee Palace also reported that Macron and Scholz, during a telephone conversation with Putin, called for the release of 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war from Azovstal.
In addition, Macron and Scholz called on Putin to negotiate directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Macron and Scholz urged the interlocutor “to urgently lift the blockade from Odessa in order to enable the export of Ukrainian grain to prevent a global food crisis.” They took note of the readiness of the Russian Federation to let foreign ships into this port to export grain, the Elysee Palace said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
“Informed about the situation on the frontline. We expect further defense support from our partners. Raised the issue of fuel supply. Ways to prevent the food crisis were discussed. We have to unblock Ukraine’s ports together,” Zelensky said on Twitter on Friday.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the main task of the international advisory group of specialists on security guarantees for Ukraine will be the development of such guarantees that will work throughout the life of many generations of Ukrainians.
According to him, the President’s Office and diplomats continue to work to ensure that Ukraine receives reliable guarantees of its own security after the end of the war.
“In particular, the international advisory group headed by Yermak and ex-NATO Secretary General Rasmussen was established. The group will include leading experts in the field of security and defense, diplomacy. Their task is to develop a format of guarantees that will really work, moreover, work not for several months or a year, but throughout the life of many generations of Ukrainians,” Zelensky said in an evening video message on Tuesday.
As reported, on Tuesday, May 24, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak announced the creation of an international advisory group that will provide proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine.
It will be headed by Andriy Yermak and ex-NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky rejected possible alternatives to EU candidate status and called not to compare Ukraine with other countries that have received this status.
“We do not need alternatives to EU membership. We do not need compromises. These will not be compromises with Ukraine, this will be another compromise between Europe and Russia, “he said in Kyiv on Saturday after talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
“For me, EU candidacy is an important signal. An important signal for our people, who defend their country and European values. I think this is a very important step. I understand that many countries have come a long way – years in terms of application and years in terms of membership, “said the President of Ukraine.
“It is incorrect to compare us with countries that have passed the peaceful path of candidacy. We are going through a war for freedom and independence, for these European values. We are not only wasting time. We lose people. I really want to believe that Portugal will also be on this side of the world, “Zelensky stressed.
During an online communication with the US university community, President Volodymyr Zelensky invited scientists to join the program to restore schools and universities in Ukraine, the press service of the President’s Office reported on Monday.
As the head of state said, a big plan for the restoration of Ukraine is being developed, which, in particular, provides for the restoration of schools, universities, institutes and other educational institutions.
“Thousands of educational institutions have been destroyed. For us, this is a great tragedy. Therefore, we will only be grateful to you if we have such restoration projects at the level of ministries of education, the level of educational programs, the level of universities,” the president said.
“When we talk about resumption, it is not only a question of money, but also of specialists. Because we can build some kind of institute, university, but it is very important that there are people who are carriers of knowledge and specialists. Therefore, we are ready for such joint work and will be very grateful if you help us develop new educational programs,” he added.
Zelensky stressed that the plan for the restoration of Ukraine provides for programs for the restoration of various sectors of the economy and public life.
“We are forming partnerships with this or that institution, with this or that state. We even have patronage. We already have several examples. I know that the United States will choose for itself a suitable region for the restoration of our country, Canada, European states,” the President said.
For the first time in history, the head of the Ukrainian state addressed the students and leaders of major universities under the auspices of the American Association of Universities. Representatives of about fifty institutions joined the meeting, including Yale University, Harvard University, Boston University, Duke University, Cornell University, Brown University. About 5.5 thousand students watched the live broadcast on campuses, the press service reports.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but without his intermediaries and on the terms of dialogue, not ultimatums.
“I am ready to talk with Putin. But only with him. Without any of his intermediaries. And on the terms of dialogue, and not on the terms of ultimatums,” Zelensky said in an interview with the Italian TV channel Rai 1, published on the head of state’s Telegram channel. on Friday.
At the same time, the president noted that the very issue of negotiations with Putin is becoming more complicated day by day.
“Because every day (Russia – IF) small, I would say, towns are occupied, where they live or lived, unfortunately, we state that people lived. Because many of them left their homes. And many people were killed. When we If we de-occupy these places, we see traces of bullying, executions and destruction of infrastructure by the Russian military. And it is precisely because of this that the moments regarding the possibility of negotiations become more complicated,” he said.
Also, according to him, the Ukrainian society itself is not positive about the negotiations between the President of Ukraine and the President of Russia.
Answering the question of what kind of world Ukraine wants, Zelensky replied that it should be Russia’s respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, traditions and people, language and people, society and independence.
“All this was violated by the Russian Federation. It needs to be restored. What does this mean? Withdraw your troops. I’m not saying that we need to return all the loot – but these are not values for us. Values are living people … Please go beyond the borders of our state” he summed up.
