Putin: EU should influence the Kiev authorities and force them to respect humanitarian law

MOSCOW, March 7,( ST)- Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel, that the EU should influence the Kiev authorities and force them to respect humanitarian law, the Kremlin press service reported.

 

Putin outlined Russia’s position in connection with the special military operation to protect the republics of Donbass. The humanitarian aspects of the current situation were discussed in detail. “It was noted that the Russian armed forces have already several times declared a ceasefire regime for the evacuation of the population along humanitarian corridors. However, the Ukrainian national battalions prevent this by resorting to violence against civilians and various kinds of provocations,” the statement says.

 

The Russian President “called on the European Union to make a real contribution to saving people’s lives, to put pressure on the Kiev authorities and force them to respect humanitarian law,” the Kremlin press service said.

 

Putin also stressed that the Russian military is doing everything to save the lives of civilians in Ukraine.

 

“The main threat comes from nationalist groups that essentially use terrorist tactics, hiding behind the civilian population,” the Kremlin press service said.

 

The Kremlin press service added that Putin also voiced his assessment of the course of negotiations with Kiev representatives, confirming Russia’s well-known demands.

 

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people “who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.” Russia’s demands include demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, the country’s neutral and nuclear weapon free status, recognizing Crimea as part of Russia as well as the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

 

Source: TASS