MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French colleague, Emmanuel Macron, spoke on the phone about the situation in Ukraine.
"A comprehensive exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, including the continuing negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives," the Kremlin was cited as saying by the Xinhua news agency. The French side initiated the phone discussion, it noted.
Earlier last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his country's armed forces were doing everything possible to spare civilian lives and establish humanitarian corridors for the population's safe departure, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's worries.
The presidents also reviewed the latest developments in the continuing peace discussions and Russia's approach to potential accords. According to local media reports, the French leader voiced concern about the situation in Mariupol and asked for an urgent ceasefire.
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