MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on French President Emmanuel Macron’s address on Ukraine in detail during the phone call with his French counterpart Thursday, disagreeing with many voiced points, Kremlin press office said after the phone call of the two leaders.
"Russian President noted that Emmanuel Macron’s address did not say a word about Ukrainian authorities sabotaging the Minsk Agreements for seven years, as well as about the West’s and France’s own failure to do anything to force Kiev to implement them," the Kremlin said.
Furthermore, "the years-long genocide of Donbass civilians that led to numerous human losses and forced hundreds of thousands of people to seek shelter in Russia is being hushed," the press office noted.
Putin also provided a detailed explanation about the significant role of neo-Nazis in Kiev’ state policy.
"Vladimir Putin disagreed […] with many voiced points. In particular this includes Macron’s claim, in which he called it a lie that Russia is fighting Nazism in Ukraine," the press office said. "In this regard, [Putin] provided a substantiated explanation regarding neo-Nazis’ significant role in Kiev’s state policy."
Putin stated that Russia will complete its special military operation in Ukraine regardless, and attempts to delay the negotiations will only lead to new Moscow’s demands for Kiev, Putin told Macron.
"Vladimir Putin provided a detailed explanation of the principal approaches and conditions in the context of the talks with Kiev representatives. It was confirmed that the first and foremost point is demilitarization of Ukraine - so that there never be any threat for the Russian Federation from its territory," the Kremlin noted.
"It was underscored that the goals of the special military operation will be completed in any case, while attempts to buy time by delaying the negotiations will only lead to emergence of additional demands to Kiev," the press office added.
Putin urged his French colleague to take part in the safe evacuation of foreigners from Ukraine, to which Macron reportedly agreed.
"The Russian side confirmed its readiness to cooperate with foreign partners in order to resolve urgent humanitarian problems," the press office said, adding that "Putin urged the President of France to join the efforts on safe evacuation of foreign citizens from Ukraine."
The Russian leader "mentioned the large group of Indian students in Kharkov, effectively held hostage by Ukrainian forces."
"Emmanuel Macron promised to carry out the necessary work with the Kiev authorities," the Kremlin noted.