Putin: ‘Military operation’ will end only if Ukrainians stop fighting

LAST UPDATE: 18.05

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation this afternoon with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan that Russia will stop its “military operation” only if Ukraine stops fighting and Moscow’s demands are met, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin said the operation was proceeding according to a timetable and that he hoped the Ukrainian negotiators would take a more constructive approach to the talks and take into account the reality on the ground, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Fill in how Moscow is ready for dialogue with Ukraine and foreign partners.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also accused Ukrainian authorities of blocking the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol during a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron.

Putin “drew attention to the fact that Kyiv continues to disregard the agreements reached on these humanitarian issues,” adding that “Ukrainian nationalists prevented the evacuation of civilians” on Saturday from Mariupol and Volnovaka, a nearby town. the Kremlin.

For his part, Erdogan, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency, called on the Russian president to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement.

In a statement issued after an hour-long telephone conversation, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan had stressed to Putin that Ankara was ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, adding that a ceasefire would allay concerns about condition.

“President Erdogan has renewed his call for ‘paving the way for peace together,'” his office said. “Erdogan stressed the importance of taking urgent measures to reach a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement.”

Putin, according to Reuters, told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan by telephone that Ukrainian negotiators they will have to take a more “constructive” approach to the talks with Moscow in order to take into account the reality on the ground.

Putin, whose comments were published by the Kremlin in a reading of the telephone communication, said that his “special operation” in Ukraine is developing according to the plan and schedule.

The Kremlin leader told Erdogan that Moscow was open to dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities, but that he hoped the Ukrainian negotiators would take a more constructive approach in the next round of talks.

The Kremlin also called attention to the futility of any attempt to delay the negotiation process, which is being used by Ukrainian security forces to rebuild their forces and resources.

It was also stated that “it is hoped that during the next round of negotiations scheduled, the representatives of Ukraine will show a more constructive approach, taking full account of the emerging realities.”

The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties.