German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine on Friday, following a conversation earlier this week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. in a statement.
“The Russian chancellor and president also discussed the global food situation, which is particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression. The chancellor recalled that Russia has a special responsibility in this,” according to the German government statement.
“Given the seriousness of the military situation and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, particularly in Mariupol, the chancellor asked the Russian president for a ceasefire as soon as possible,” the statement said.
Scholz also discussed “an improvement in the humanitarian situation and progress in the search for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.”
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the bloc would provide another 500 million euros in military support to Ukraine and that he was confident an agreement could be reached in the coming days for a embargo on Russian oil.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Germany, Borrell said the military support would be for heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery and would bring the bloc’s aid to around 2 billion euros.
“A new impetus for military support. (It will be) more pressure on Russia with economic sanctions and continued international isolation of the country and fighting disinformation,” he said.
Borrell said he was also optimistic that an EU embargo on Russian oil could also be agreed in the coming days. “I’m sure we’ll have a deal. We need it and we will. We have to get rid of Russia’s dependence on oil,” said the diplomat.
“If there is no agreement between the ambassadors, next Monday (16) the ministers, when they meet, will have to provide the political impetus,” he said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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