President of Russia Vladimir Putin has focused on the need for the US and NATO to take Russia’s demands to assure its security guarantees as seriously as possible and to respond specifically and to the point.
As per the statement released by the Kremlin, “Russian President Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation in which the two leaders had an in-depth discussion of the developments around Ukraine as well as the development regarding long-term legal security guarantees for the Russian Federation.”
Accordingly, President Putin noted that “provocations from Ukrainian militants were the main reason for the escalation,” adding that “Attention was drawn to the modern weapons and ammunition being sent to Ukraine by NATO member countries, which is encouraging Kyiv to pursue a military solution to the Donbas problem.”
The statement added, “As a result, civilians in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics are suffering and being forced to leave for Russia to save themselves from intensifying attacks.”
The two presidents found it suitable to step up the search for a diplomatic resolution between the foreign ministers and political advisors to the leaders of the Normandy format countries.
Kremlin further added that these meetings would help restore the ceasefire and ensure progress in settling the conflict around Donbas.
As per the White House press release, “US President Joe Biden had a word with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday and discussed ongoing diplomacy and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s military build-up on the borders of Ukraine.
During the past few months, the West and Ukraine have blamed Russia for a troop build-up near Ukraine’s border in alleged preparation for an invasion.
Moscow, however, has denied these accusations by stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO’s military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security.