Peace..

 

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke via phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire and direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid Moscow’s continued invasion of Ukraine.

The European leaders also pressed Putin to release roughly 2,5000 “defenders of Azovstal held as prisoners of war by Russian forces,” according to a press release from the French embassy. Azovstal was the final holdout of Ukrainian forces before Russia fully seized the port city of Mariupol.

Putin reportedly conveyed “the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue” during the 80-minute call.

Macron and Scholtz also voiced an “urgent need for the blockade of Odessa to be lifted” in order to resume the export of Ukrainian grain, the release added. The Russian blockade is exacerbating food shortages and inflation across the world. 

Can Macron brokers a deal to this area?  Just a thought.