Macron urged Putin to stop military actions

Reuters: French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop Russia's military operations in Ukraine and ensure the protection and security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, a representative of Macron's office said.

A French official confirmed that Macron had a nearly two-hour phone conversation with Putin on Sunday.

Russian media previously reported on the latest talks between Putin and Macron. Macron has maintained regular contacts with Putin, but, as with other international efforts, he has yet to convince Moscow to cancel the military campaign, which has been going on for 11 days.

Putin said on Sunday that his campaign in Ukraine is going according to plan and will not end until Kiev stops fighting, as attempts to evacuate heavily shelled Mariupol failed for the second day in a row.

Putin made the comments in a telephone conversation with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who called for a cease-fire in a conflict that, according to the United Nations, has caused the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.—0—