Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv Friday of delaying the negotiation process during a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
According to the Kremlin readout, Putin outlined his assessments of the ongoing video talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.
“It was noted that the Kyiv regime is trying in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals. Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue the search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches,” the readout said.
The Russian President claimed that the Russian Armed Forces were doing everything possible to save the lives of civilians, including by organizing safe corridors for the evacuation of the population from cities in the combat zone.
The Kremlin said that the call was initiated by the German side.
During their hour-long call, Scholz repeated his call for a “ceasefire as quickly as possible," as well as an "improved humanitarian situation and progress in the search of a diplomatic solution," according to a tweet posted by Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday.
This is the third time Scholz and Putin have spoken since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The last conversation took place alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on March 12.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on a call the two leaders had a "difficult but business-like" discussion. "The conversation, of course, can hardly be called friendly. This was a tough conversation," he said.
"But nevertheless, there is a need for such contacts, exchange of information, discussion of sensitive topics related to the special operation."
