MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone, during which the Russian leader expressed the Kiev regime's wish to postpone peace talks.

According to the Kremlin: "It was underlined that the Kiev leadership is attempting to stall the talks process by making more unrealistic suggestions. Nonetheless, the Russian side is ready to keep looking for answers in accordance with its well-known principled principles." Putin also stated that the Russian armed forces are doing all possible to spare civilian lives, including organising safe passages for the populace to flee war-torn cities,  Russian Times reported.

Putin also examined the status of the special operation in Ukraine with the permanent members of Russia's Security Council. Dmitry Peskov, the president's press secretary, announced this.

"At the meeting, the current international situation was reviewed, and the exchange of views on the continuing special operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine was continued," Peskov was quoted by TASS. He said, the President briefed the meeting attendees on his numerous overseas phone calls.

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