Macron & Scholz urge Putin to engage in “serious negotiations” with Zelensky

European leaders have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold “serious negotiations” with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to release the 2,500 Ukrainian defenders of the Azovstal steel complex who are now arrested by Russian military.

In a phone discussion with Mr Putin, the two European leaders requested him to engage in “straight serious negotiations” with Mr Zelensky. They “insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops”, the German chancellor’s office said.

It comes as Russia claims to have taken control of Lyman, Ukraine, after days of battle. The reported achievement is thought to be critical to the next phase of Moscow’s offensive in the Donbas region.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a late-night address on Friday: “If the occupiers believe Lyman and Sievierodonetsk would be theirs, they are mistaken.” Donbas will come under Ukrainian control.”

However, the UK Ministry of Defence stated that Vladimir Putin’s forces had “likely” secured the majority of Lyman, “in what is likely a preliminary operation for the next stage of Russia’s Donbas offensive.”

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