Russian President Vladimir PutinOn Saturday, he accused the Ukrainian forces of “flagrant violations” of humanitarian law and called on his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to pressure Kiev to put an end to them.
During a phone call with his two counterparts, Putin mentioned “extrajudicial killings of opponents”, “civilian hostage-taking” and their “use as human shields”, as well as the “deployment of ‘heavy weapons’ in residential areas, near of hospitals, schools and nurseries,’ according to a Kremlin statement.
He also blamed Ukrainian “nationalist battalions” for “systematically disrupting rescue operations and intimidating civilians trying to evacuate” from combat zones.
“Vladimir Putin urged Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz to influence the Kiev authorities to put an end to these criminal actions,” the Kremlin added.
SOURCE: AFP
