Putin Warns French Prez, German Chancellor Against Arms Supplies To Ukraine Over 'Risks Of Further Destabilisation'

According to the German chancellor's office, Macron and Scholz urged Vladimir Putin to hold "direct serious negotiations" with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) took place on Saturday and lasted 80 minutes.

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday warned French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz against increasing arms supplies to Ukraine, contending that this could further destabilise the situation there. He also told the French and German leaders that Moscow is willing to explore ways to ship grains stuck in Ukrainian ports if the West lifts its sanctions. This comes as the West has accused Putin of using hunger as a weapon amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The talks between the leaders lasted 80 minutes, news agency AFP reported the German chancellor's office as stating.

According to the Russian President, the difficulties in supplying grain to world markets were an outcome of "erroneous economic and financial policies of Western countries".

"Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports," Putin told Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said, as quoted by AFP.

"An increase in the supply of Russian fertilisers and agricultural products will also help reduce tensions on the global food market, which, of course, will require the removal of the relevant sanctions," he stated.

Among other global concerns, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent Western sanctions have disrupted supplies of fertiliser, wheat, and other commodities from the two countries, fuelling concerns about the risk of global food insecurity, shortages, and hunger around the world.

Russia and Ukraine produce 30 per cent of the global wheat supply.

Macron & Scholz Urge Putin To Hold ‘Direct Serious Negotiations’ With Zelenskyy

The French and German leaders urged Russia to lift the blockade of Odessa port in Ukraine to allow the export of grain, the French presidency said.

Both leaders "have taken note of the promise of the Russian president to grant ships access to the port for the export of grain without it being exploited militarily by Russia if it is first cleared of mines," the French presidency added, as quoted by AFP.

With Ukraine's Western allies considering sending more arms supplies to Kyiv, Putin told Macron and Scholz that the continuing arms supplies were "dangerous", warning "of the risks of further destabilisation of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis," the Kremlin informed.

According to the German chancellor's office, Macron and Scholz urged Putin to hold "direct serious negotiations" with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The leaders "insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops," the chancellor's office stated.

Without mentioning the possibility of direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, the Kremlin said Putin said Moscow was open to resuming dialogue with Kyiv.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have held in-person and virtual talks since the Russian military offensive before they reached a stalemate.

As per the French presidency, Macron and Scholz also asked the Russian President to release 2,500 Ukrainian fighters who were holed up inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and later surrendered to the Russian army.

"The president of the Republic and the German chancellor asked for the release of some 2,500 defenders of Azovstal made prisoners of war by the Russian forces," the French presidency stated.

(With Agency Inputs)