The presidents of Russia and France, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and Belarus during a telephone conversation, the Kremlin press service reports.
The telephone conversation took place at the initiative of the French side. As the Kremlin noted, the leaders of the two states “sharply condemned the sharp escalation of the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, and also expressed concern over the ongoing military operations.”
Putin and Macron called on the parties to the conflict to observe a swift and complete ceasefire and to de-escalate tensions.
“The sharp escalation of the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone was discussed in detail. Serious concern was expressed over the continuing large-scale military operations. Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the opposing parties to observe a swift and complete ceasefire, to de-escalate tensions and to show maximum restraint,” the statement said.
The press service added that during the conversation it was noted that a political and diplomatic settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis has no alternative. “Within this framework, specific parameters for further interaction were considered, primarily in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group. They expressed readiness to come forward with a statement in the name of the leaders of the co-chairing countries of the Minsk Group (Russia, France and the United States) in favour of a swift cessation of the armed confrontation and the resumption of the negotiation process,” the Kremlin reported.
Putin confirmed the position of the Russian Federation regarding the inadmissibility of attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and of external pressure on legitimate authorities.
“The situation created in Belarus after the presidential elections was also addressed. The Russian side reaffirmed its principled position regarding the inadmissibility of any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and of external pressure on legitimate authorities,” the statement said.
