War in Ukraine: Putin accuses Ukraine of stalling the talks
Eva Deschamps / March 18, 2022
The Russian president accused Ukraine on Friday of dragging out talks on the conflict and said that Kiev had unrealistic demands, during a telephone conversation with the German chancellor.
It was noted that the Kiev regime is trying by all means to drag out the negotiation process, putting forward new unrealistic proposals, the Kremlin said in a statement summarizing Putin's remarks to Olaf Scholz.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesman, told reporters that the meeting between the two leaders was a tough conversation.
He added that the Russian president is also scheduled to speak with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Friday around 16:00 GMT.
Russia has indicated that it wants to negotiate a neutral and demilitarized status with Kiev.
The Ukrainian authorities, without dismissing the idea of neutrality and seeming to renounce membership in NATO, have called for the designation of countries that would guarantee its security and defend it militarily in case of aggression by Moscow.
Kiev also demands the withdrawal of all Russian forces and respect for its territorial integrity, while Russia has recognized the independence of two separatist entities in Ukraine and has annexed Crimea.
Russia celebrates on Friday the eight years of the annexation of this peninsula.