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Macron, Scholz tell Putin about need for ceasefire in Ukraine

Before speaking to the Russian president, Scholz had held talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

BERLIN, March 12. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on Saturday, the German government said.

"During the 75-minute talks, the Federal Chancellor and the French president insisted on an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the start [of efforts] to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. It was decided to keep silent regarding the remaining details," the statement says.

Before speaking to the Russian president, Scholz had held talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

"Scholz learnt about his evaluation of the current situation. The parties agreed to keep in touch," the statement says.

On February 24, Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, but aims to demilitarize and denazify the country.

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